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Morel Hunting spots! Some things just shouldn't be discussed. When there is one morel there is usually more. Don't litter in the woods... Take out what you bring in. Sandy loamy well drained soil is ideal for morels. Warning and Disclaimer |
Identifying Trees in Spring
I would like to extend a huge thank you to our friends at What Tree Is It? for providing the photos needed to make this page possible.
Since this sight is aimed at helping the morel hunter at becoming successful in his/her morel hunt, I thought this site wouldn't be complete without a page that provides information on tree identification. Morel hunters know that the main key to finding morels is knowing which trees produce. I have included the main hosting trees for morels. Although morels have been found near other types of trees but I think I have included the main big hitters here on this page.
Quaking and Big-Tooth Aspen
Quaking & Big-tooth Aspen |Tulip Poplar |Eastern Cottonwood |Sugar Maple |White Ash |American Elm
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 Aspen Fruit  |
Morels Associated:
Black Morels~Morchella Elata, M Angusticeps, M Conica
Yellow Morels~Morchella Esculenta, M Deliciosa, M Crassipes
Beefsteak Morels~Gyromitra Esculenta
Height:
50-60 Feet Tall
Diameter:
2-3 Feet with a rounded crown and slender branches.
Description
The Quaking Aspen and the Big-tooth Aspen trees are very similar in appearance. The bark is kind of a smooth light grey or whiteish and in certain cases an olive cast with small furrows that almost appear as small horizontal lines. They Typically grow in clustered groves.
Leaf Characteristics:
The Quaking Aspen Leaves have a Semi-rounded,appearance that comes to a point. 1 1/2-3 inches wide. Color is a yellowish green and has very tiny rounded teeth.
The main distinction between the Quaking Aspen and the Big-tooth Aspen is the leaves. The Quaking Aspen leaves have small tiny teeth whereas the Big-tooth Aspen has large jagged looking teeth. Other than that the two trees look pretty much alike.
Big-Tooth Aspen Leaf
Tulip Poplar
Quaking & Big-tooth Aspen |Tulip Poplar |Eastern Cottonwood |Sugar Maple |White Ash |American Elm
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 Poplar Fruit  |
Morels Associated:
Black Morels~Morchella Elata, M Angusticeps, M Conica
Yellow Morels~Morchella Esculenta, M Deliciosa, M Crassipes
Beefsteak Morels~Gyromitra Esculenta
Height:
80-100 Feet Tall
Diameter:
2-6 Feet with a variable crown and large branches.
Description
The Poplar or Tulip tree is the tallest in North America. They can reach heights of 200 feet. The bark is gray and fairly smooth when young. As the tree matures the bark become furrowed forming a diamond shape or "X" pattern (depending on your perspective)
Leaf Characteristics:
The Tulip Poplar leaves are easy to remember since they are shaped like a Tulip, Hence the name. They are typically 4-6 inches long with 4 broad lobes. Color is a dark to pale green and the edges are smooth.
Cotton Wood
Quaking & Big-tooth Aspen |Tulip Poplar |Eastern Cottonwood |Sugar Maple |White Ash |American Elm
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 Eastern Cottonwood Fruit  |
Morels Associated:
Black Morels~Morchella Elata, M Angusticeps, M Conica
Beefsteak Morels~Gyromitra Esculenta
Height:
60-100 Feet Tall
Diameter:
Up to 5 Feet with a wide crown and large branches.
Description
The bark is Pale, thin, and smooth at a young age becoming grayish brown, thick, and very deeply furrowed from the base of the tree upwards. Very similar to the Tulip Poplar. The Cottonwood bark has deeper furrows.
Leaf Characteristics:
The Cottonwood leaves are broad and flat, fine double teeth, all teeth the same size,
triangular with a long stem.
Maple Tree
Quaking & Big-tooth Aspen |Tulip Poplar |Eastern Cottonwood |Sugar Maple |White Ash |American Elm
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 Maple Fruit  |
Morels Associated:
Black Morels~Morchella Elata, M Angusticeps, M Conica
Yellow Morels~Morchella Esculenta, M Deliciosa, M Crassipes
Height:
75-100 Feet Tall
Diameter:
2-4 Feet with a wide crown and large branches.
Description
The Maple tree is a tall tree reaching heights of 100 foot tall. The bark is grayish varying to brown, rough textured with shallow furrows.The bark on Maple trees tend to be loose in some cases.
Leaf Characteristics:
The Maple leaves are broad and flat with "U" shaped notches. No teeth
Ash Tree
Quaking & Big-tooth Aspen |Tulip Poplar |Eastern Cottonwood |Sugar Maple |White Ash |American Elm
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 White Ash Fruit  |
Photos Courtesy of Oplin
Morels Associated:
Black Morels~Morchella Elata, M Angusticeps, M Conica
Yellow Morels~Morchella Esculenta, M Deliciosa, M Crassipes
Half-Free Morels~Morchella Semilibera
Height:
50-80 Feet Tall
Diameter:
1-3 Feet with an open crown.
Description
The Ash tree is not as tall as most only topping a height of 80 feet. The Bark is a dark grayish brown, deeply cut into X-shapes or diamond pattern. This is a highly sought after tree for morel hunters. Good for finding blacks and can produce large flushes of yellows.
Leaf Characteristics:
The leaves of an Ash are compound, that are shaped like a candle-flame, the edges are smooth.
Morels Associated:
Yellow Morels/Grey Morels~Morchella Esculenta, M Deliciosa, M Crassipes
Height:
75-100 Feet Tall
Diameter:
1-5 Feet with a vase shaped crown and slender branches.
Description
The American Elm Tree has a bark that is Thin, gray, furrowed with flattened ridges that form a vague criss-cross pattern. The leaves are a shaped like a candle flame with double saw-tooth teeth. This tree can have a green appearance as it just begins to die of the dutch elm disease. Perhaps one of the most sought after trees for morel hunters. Elm trees in their early dyeing stage can produce a great flush of yellows and greys.
Leaf Characteristics:
The leaves are 4-6 inches long, candle flame shaped with double saw-tooth teeth all around the leaf. Spotting a deam Elm is very easy. When an Elm dies or begins to die, the bark will start falling off the tree. Usually the ground will be littered with big chuncks of barks all around the tree.
Morels Associated:
Black Morels~Morchella Elata, M Angusticeps, M Conica
Yellow Morels/Grey Morels~Morchella Esculenta, M Deliciosa, M Crassipes
Height:
50-60 Feet Tall
Diameter:
2-3 Feet with a rounded crown and slender branches.
Description
If left to grow naturally can grow to heights of 15 to 20 feet. Grey bark. The tree trunk can be twisted and up to 4 ft in diameter. Mature trees over fifteen years of age bear fruit from September to October.
Leaf and flower Characteristics:
Leaves are oblong shaped, blossoms appear in May and are white tipped with pink.
Morels Associated:
Black Morels~Morchella Elata, M Angusticeps, M Conica
Yellow Morels~Morchella Esculenta, M Deliciosa, M Crassipes
Half-Free Morels~Morchella Semilibera
Height:
50-80 Feet Tall
Diameter:
1-3 Feet with an open crown.
Description
The Ash tree is not as tall as most only topping a height of 80 feet. The Bark is a dark grayish brown, deeply cut into X-shapes or diamond pattern. This is a highly sought after tree for morel hunters. Good for finding blacks and can produce large flushes of yellows.
Leaf Characteristics:
The leaves of an Ash are compound, that are shaped like a candle-flame, the edges are smooth.
American Elm Tree
Quaking & Big-tooth Aspen |Tulip Poplar |Eastern Cottonwood |Sugar Maple |White Ash |American Elm
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 Elm Tree Fruit  |
Morels Associated:
Yellow Morels/Grey Morels~Morchella Esculenta, M Deliciosa, M Crassipes
Height:
75-100 Feet Tall
Diameter:
1-5 Feet with a vase shaped crown and slender branches.
Description
The American Elm Tree has a bark that is Thin, gray, furrowed with flattened ridges that form a vague criss-cross pattern. The leaves are a shaped like a candle flame with double saw-tooth teeth. This tree can have a green appearance as it just begins to die of the dutch elm disease. Perhaps one of the most sought after trees for morel hunters. Elm trees in their early dyeing stage can produce a great flush of yellows and greys.
Leaf Characteristics:
The leaves are 4-6 inches long, candle flame shaped with double saw-tooth teeth all around the leaf. Spotting a deam Elm is very easy. When an Elm dies or begins to die, the bark will start falling off the tree. Usually the ground will be littered with big chuncks of barks all around the tree.
Apple Tree
Quaking & Big-tooth Aspen |Tulip Poplar |Eastern Cottonwood |Sugar Maple |White Ash |American Elm
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Morels Associated:
Black Morels~Morchella Elata, M Angusticeps, M Conica
Yellow Morels/Grey Morels~Morchella Esculenta, M Deliciosa, M Crassipes
Height:
50-60 Feet Tall
Diameter:
2-3 Feet with a rounded crown and slender branches.
Description
If left to grow naturally can grow to heights of 15 to 20 feet. Grey bark. The tree trunk can be twisted and up to 4 ft in diameter. Mature trees over fifteen years of age bear fruit from September to October.
Leaf and flower Characteristics:
Leaves are oblong shaped, blossoms appear in May and are white tipped with pink.
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