Featured Mushroom #3: Gyromitra infula

Common Name: Saddle-shaped False Morel

I photographed this strange, wrinkly. lobed mushroom in the woods of Plymouth, New Hampshire in October, 2005. A few of these were popping up out of a fallen log. (If you look closely you might see several other mushrooms on this same log.) Stacey and I were walking back to our cabin with a prized Hericium americanum when we spotted these.

They share some similarities with Morels - the general shape and size, and the enlarged head. If you compare the two, you'll notice Morels have a chambered cap, whereas these "false" varieties are more globule and irregularly shaped. Unlike Morels which usually appear in the spring these False Morels are not edible and usually are found in the fall.

Once again, you can find additional info at MushroomExpert.com