Found this weirdo while morel hunting with my dad yesterday. (Found exactly 14 of those - up at around 5200ft near Sage Hen. We checked usual spots at lower elevations, but found nothing but older verpas there. The 14 were in one little sunny spot and were brand-new. We are figuring 1 - 2 weeks for some better picking.) Found this black fungus nearby on a burned log - it was exactly the color of the charcoal. It looked like a cup fungus, so I expected it to fall apart when I picked it up, but it was TOUGH. I finally had to get a knife to cut through its base. Turned it over to find it was filled with transparent gel, just about the consistency of a Jello Jiggler. Very interesting. I just happened to flip open my Miller book, first time, to Sarcosoma mexicana. Weird. I do think that is what it is. Hopefully you can see the gel in the pictures. It's on the right side - took one with flash and one without.
We also found lots and lots and LOTS of gyromitra, and a few pig's ears. A large fruiting of new, fist-sized puffballs that I haven't tried to identify yet. A few snowbanks were left up at about 5000', but mostly on the north sides of hills. We had to park behind one and walk to our usual spot. Much bear scat too.
Hope you all have fun at the foray! I can't make it this year, but happy hunting and many morels to you all!
Krista W.
Krista,
ReplyDeleteYou have found Sarcosoma mexicana. It fruits on rotting conifer wood in conifer forests in early spring after cool wet weather like we have been having. This is one of my favorite cup fungi. Nice find. Genny S