Black Morels

Common Names: `Black morels,` `early morels,` `morels,` `grey morels.` Scientific Names: Morchella angusticeps, Morchella elata, Morchella conica. The black morel can be anywhere from half an inch high to over a foot high. Usually black morels are very dark brown, nearly black, with darker ridges and lighter pits, and a whitish stem. Sometimes they`re pointy, but other times they can be rounded. They are hollow. They come up as early as the last week of March. A word of caution regarding black morels: Some people have allergic reactions, apparently, to these mushrooms. While the reaction is not usually severe, it can involve stomach upset and a loss of muscle coordination. Instances are rare, and often involve the combination of black morels and the consumption of alcohol.