Early morel
Verpa bohemica · 皱盖钟菌
Occasional羊肚菌科⚠️ Poisonous
Reference sources list this as a poisonous mushroom.
The same species can be described differently across regions and stages of maturity, and countless look-alike species cannot be told apart by eye. Never use the information on this page to judge whether a real mushroom is safe to eat.
How to Tell
- Cap longitudinally wrinkled, attached to the stem only at the top, thimble-like
- Stem white, stuffed with cottony filling inside
- Appears in early spring, ahead of true morels
ID notes are compiled by AI from public sources, not reviewed by a mycologist, for learning only — never a basis for foraging.
Basics
- Family
- 羊肚菌科
- Hymenium
- Ridges
- Grows On
- Soil
- How Big
- 2–5 cm (cap diameter)
- Encounter Rate
- Occasional
- Habitat
- Riverside poplar and willow woods, early spring
Easily Confused With
MorelMorel's cap is joined to the stem along its lower edge; early morel's cap hangs free, attached only at the top, like a thimble.
Black morelBlack morel's cap has honeycomb-like vertical ridges; early morel's cap is wrinkled, not honeycombed.
False morelCap reddish brown, irregularly brain-like and wrinkled, not honeycombedFun Fact
It fruits earlier in the season than true morels, its cap attached to the stem only at the very top, like a bell hanging from a hook; some people experience coordination problems after eating it.
Open in the guide · filters & photos ›