Tree Identification for the Morel Hunter

     Elms, Ash, Hickory, Sycamore, and Tulip poplar are all great tree types to search near for morels. Especially if these trees are starting to die and decay. To search near them, we must know how to identify them. Each of these tree types can be identified by its leaves, structure, bark, branch type, crown form, and fruit/cone/seed.  

          Elm

     Dying elm trees are one of the most popular areas to search for morels. There are 3 common species of elm in North America, the American elm, slippery elm, and rock elm. All are similar in appearance and promote morel growth, especially those that have died in the past couple years.

     How to Identify: Elm leaves are oval shaped and have a pointed tip with one side slightly longer then the other. The leaves are also contain double-serrated leaf margins. The bark is a gray to dark brown color that’s rough with intersecting ridges. Slippery elms can be distinguished by the “hairiness” on it’s twigs and buds.  

     Region: American Elm and Slippery elm can be found in central and eastern United States while the rock elms mainly grow in the northeastern and north-central United States regions.

     Other uses: Slippery elms inner bark has been used by Indigenous Americans to sooth sore throats and make healing salves for wounds, boils, burns, and skin inflammation.

          Ash

     Green and white ash are the two most common species in North America. Ash trees numbers are declining due to an invasive insect the Emerald ash borer.

     How to Identify: Ash branches grow directly across from one another which is unusual in the tree world. The leaves are compound (meaning many leaflets join to the stem) The seeds are flat, winged, and often grow in bunches. The bark is dark brown to gray with a red tinge that is strongly ridged.

     Region: The white and green ashcan be found throughout central and eastern United States.

     Other uses: White and green ash leaves and bark have claims of being used for fever, arthritis, bladder issues, and constipation. The seeds are also edible.

          Hickory

     About 12 species of Hickory are native to North America, and are prized not only for fruiting morels, but their hard dense wood, syrupy sap, and delicious nuts. (shagbark and shellbark species offer the sweetest nuts, other species are edible but can be very bitter)

     How to Identify: Hickory bark forms ridges in a vertical pattern. The leaves are compound and oblong shaped with larger leaflets towards the end of the leaf. The nuts have a round woody outer shell that can be green to dark brown depending on the season. The shells may vary slightly in size but the nuts inside are about the size of a quarter with a light tan color to them.

     Region: Different species of Hickory can be found throughout most of the United States.

     Other uses: Many hunters will scout out hickory tree’s as they are great feeding areas for wild game. The wood is often used in building applications, and the nuts can be used to make flour or eaten raw.

          Sycamore

     There are six species of sycamore native to North America. They are all large tree’s that often line waterways and enjoy the same moist soil as morels.

     How to Identify: Sycamore are one of the easiest trees to Identify. They are unique in appearance as they sport a multi-colored camouflage-looking bark. The tops of the tree’s are often full of crooked white branches. The leaves have a similar appearance to a maple leaf, but sycamores seeds are housed in small spiky balls.

     Region: Sycamores mainly grow in their native region of central to eastern United States.  

     Other Uses: The inner bark has been used by Indigenous Americans to treat dysentery, colds, lung ailments, measles, and cough. The papery bark also makes a great kindling for starting fires.

          Tulip Poplar

(often called tulip tree, yellow poplar, fiddletree)

     There are only two species in the Tulip poplar type, and neither are closely related to poplars, or tulips. These are the tallest, clearest, and straightest tree of the eastern hardwoods.

     How to identify: The leaf is unique in appearance with four lobes separated by rounded notches. In the spring the tree’s have greenish to yellow tulip-like flowers. The bark is smooth and greenish in color on younger tree’s and as it ages wide white furrows begin to separate developing flat ridges.

     Region: Tulip poplars grow in the eastern United States region.

     Other uses: The tulip poplar was often used to make dugout canoes. The Cherokee (Ani’-Yun’wiya’) tribe used the inner bark as a tonic to treat parasitic worms, diarrhea, fever, and snake bites. The leaves were used for topical applications for fever, sprains, bruises, and rheumatic swellings.  

     Morels Mushrooms can be found near most tree’s and sometimes in the middle of gravel driveways but selecting smaller areas that are prone to producing morels regularly will greatly improve your findings. Old apple orchards, and oak trees are other areas often associated with morel findings, but the trees I’ve listed above seem to be the best bets.