p, which is
generally cylindrical, sometimes pointed, and slightly curved. The stem
is rather short and, like the stem of all Morels, is hollow from the top
to the bottom.

It is found associated with other species of Morels, in woods and wood
borders, also in old apple and peach orchards. They need to be cooked
slowly and long. Coming early in the spring, they are not likely to be
infested with worms. The flesh is rather fragile and not very watery.
They are easily dried. Found through April and May.

_Morchella esculenta var. conica. Pers._

THE CONICAL MOREL. EDIBLE.

[Illustration: _Photo by C. G. Lloyd._

Plate LII. Figure 411.--Morchella esculenta var. conica.]

The Conical Morel is very closely related to M. esculenta and M.
deliciosa, from which it differs in having the cap longer than it is
wide, and more pointed, so that it is conical or oblong-conical. The
plant, as a general thing, grows to be larger than the other species.
It is, however, pretty hard to distinguish these three species. The
Conical Morel is quite abundant about Chillicothe. I have found Morels
especially plentiful about the reservoirs in Mercer County, and in
Auglaize, Allen, Harden, Hancock, Wood and Henry Counties. I have known
lovers of Morels to go on camping tours in the woods about the
reservoirs for the purpose of hunting them, and to bring home large
quantities of them.

[Illustration: Figure 412.--Morchella esculenta var. conica. Two-thirds
natural size.]

_Morchella angusticeps. Pk._

THE NARROW-CAP MOREL. EDIBLE.

[Illustration: Figure 413.--Morchella angusticeps.]

Angusticeps is from two Latin words: _angustus_, narrow; _caput_, head.
This species and M. conica are so nearly alike that it is very difficult
to identify them with any degree of satisfaction. In both species the
cap is considerably longer than broad, but in angusticeps the cap is
slimmer and more pointed. The pits, as a general thing are longer than
in the other species. They are often found in orchards but are also
frequently found in low woods under black ash trees. I have found some
typical specimens about the reservoirs. The specimens in Figure 413
were collected in Michigan, and photographed by Prof. B. O. Longyear.
They appear very early in the spring, even while we are still having
frosts.

_Morchella semilibera. D. C._

THE HYBRID MOREL. EDIBLE.

[Illustration: Figure 414.--Morchella semilibera. One-half natural
size.]

Semilibera