12 



The Canadian Field-Naturalist 



[Vol. XXXIV. 



to that of a pea, growing larger all the while, mak- 

 ing their way to the surface of the ground, when 

 if conditions are favorable mushrooms will mature 

 in a short time. 



The cap or pilaus of a mushroom is the expanded 

 part; on its under side are gills or lamellae, thin 

 plates radiating from the stem to margin of the 

 pileus, affording a foundation on which club-shaped 

 cells stand parallel to each other. The entire sur- 

 face of the lamellae is covered with these cells, 

 called basidia. 



In Ascomycetes, including morels, the distinctive 

 feature consists of spores enclosed in a long cylin- 

 drical tube or ascus. Like mushrooms, morels con- 

 sist of two prominent parts, stem or stipe, and cap 

 or pileus; but are very unlike them in general ap- 

 pearance. The pileus varies much m form bemg 

 conical, ovate, rounded, bell-shaped, or cylindrical, 

 and is always pitted. These depressions are usually 

 regular, covering the entire outer surface, and are 

 separated from each other by ridges with rounded 

 blunt edges, thus forming a network assuming a 

 honeycombed appearance. 



Unlike mushrooms, the upper or exterior surface 

 is the spore bearing part in morels, and spore sacs 

 are developed on both ridges and depressions. The 

 pileus is hollow, closed at the apex, and attached 

 throughout its length to the sides of the stipe. In 

 color it varies from shades of olive, to green.sh 

 brown, and light ochre yellow. Its stipe is hollow 

 and continuous with the cavity of the pileus. It is 

 stout, smooth, but covered with minute granular par- 

 ticles, and varies from Vi to 1 inch in diameter. 

 Its spores as before mentioned contained in an ascus, 

 are smooth, hyaline, elliptical, standing obliquely, 

 eight in a continuous row, varying in size from 19 

 to 22 microns long by I 1 microns wide. The plant 

 is from 2 to 4 inches high, but is often found larger. 

 The rare species referred to in the title of this 

 article, namely Morchella bispora Sot., or the Two- 

 spored morel, is a morel somewhat similar to the 

 one described, but unlike it in several dislinclive 

 characteristics. Its surface is reticulated, with 

 ridges running in a more regular longitudinal man- 

 ner, and differs in having its pileus free from stipe 

 along lower margin, but is attached to it at its apex. 

 Its main difference, however, lies in the fact that its 

 ascus contains only two exceedingly long spores, 

 while all other morels have eight. The pileus is 

 dark greenish brown in color, I to I j/2 inches long 

 by I to I ^ inches wide. Its stipe is stuffed with 

 a pithy substance, at intervals of one-half inch, form- 

 ing partitions, leaving hollow spaces between. It is 

 cylindrical, very fragile, tapering to apex, straight, 

 often slightly curved, easily separating from pileus, 

 having base covered with a thick floccose substance 



readily rubbed off. In size it is from 4 to 5 inches 

 long, and from Yz to % of an inch thick, at widest 

 part. Its spores are cream or light yellow, faintly 

 granular, two in an ascus, often slightly curved, 

 fairly uniform in width, exceedingly variable in 

 length. They are narrowly-oblong, size 52-62 

 microns long by 14 to 17 microns wide. 



Morchella hkpora grows singly, under open 

 hardwood trees, in rocky soil, among leaves; height 

 from 4 to 6 inches. A few plants were found in 

 Gilmour's grove, Chelsea, Que. ; two in Arm- 

 strong's bush near Green's creek, and six in Bill- 

 ings' bush, both of these latter localities being in the 

 province of Ontario, near Ottawa. After May 15, 

 no more specimens were seen. Possibly if the sur- 

 rounding woods were systematically searched in 

 early spring, the range of its habitat might be ex- 

 tended. Considerable interest is attached to this 

 species partly on account of its rarity, but mainly 



6 7 8 



Fig-. 6. Basidium of Coininus comauis (A. spores: 

 St.. .sterigmata: B. basiiliumi: 7. ascus of Morchella 

 esculenta (.A, spore.s): 8. ascus of Morchella bispora 

 (.\. s] ores). .All highly magnified. 



because there is no record of its having been pre- 

 viously found in Canada. 



All morels are edible, and in the writer's estima- 

 tion surpass all other V\nds of mushrooms, as a 

 choice article of diet. They are not found in large 

 numbers in the district of Ottawa, but are general 

 around suburbs of the city in such places as the 

 edges cf woods, in grass, and in shady places. They 

 have been found at Rockcliffe, at the Rifle Range, 

 Experimential Farm, High Bridge over Rideau 

 river, Wychwocd, Lake Flora, and in the woods 

 south of Lemay's lake. 



There seems to be a popular misconception re- 

 garding the food value of mushrooms. From articles 

 appearing in newspapers, one would be led to infer 

 that their food value is high — that they could take 

 the place of our staple foods, wheat, beans, flour or 

 meat. Investigation proves that their edible value 

 is no! so high as is supposed. Careful analyses have 

 been made of many species, and while there is con- 



