2. Cap seareely broa^ler than stem, ^f. anrjuaticeps 



S. Cap free from stem to middle, M. semiUhera 



3. Cap free from stem to top, ,1/. hispora 



Tlic Common morel, Munhella esculenia, pjeuerally has the 

 eap a little longer than hroad, so that it is nearly oval in outline. 

 Sometimes it is nearly glolnihir. and occasionally it is slightly 

 narrowed in its upper half, 

 hut not so much as t<i he 

 pointed or conical. The pits 

 or cavities in its surface are 

 more regularly roumlcd than 

 in the other species, and re- 

 semble more the cells of a 

 honev-comb. The cap !•< 

 much broader than the ili- 

 amcter of the stem. Tlic 

 plants vary from two tn 

 four inches in height, but 

 occasionally specimens occur 

 much larger, and sometimes 

 even smaller than these di- 

 mensions. The stem is com- 

 monly half an inch or more 

 in diameter. 



The Conical morel, J/. 

 conica, is closely related to 

 the preceding species, of 

 which some have considered 

 it a mere variety. It differs 

 from it in having the cap 

 longer in proportion to its 

 width, and also more point- 

 ed, so that it is conical or ob- 

 long-conical in shape. The 

 principal ridges wdiich se])a- 

 rate the rows of pits in the 

 surface appear to run more regularly and distinctly from top to 

 bottom. They are^connected by intervening transverse ridges, 

 w^hich are sometimes less elevated that the longitudinal ridges, 

 and therefore the pits often appear longer than broad, and less 

 regular in outline. The cap is decidedly broader than its stem. 

 The ])lants ar(> generally from three to five inches high. 



The Narrow-cap morel, J/, angusiiceps, differs from the 



IT 



Mori'liella esciilcnta, full size. 



