Elephant Ear
Gyromitra brunnea
Family: Discinaceae
Also called: Brown False Morel, Elephant Ears False Morel
Overview
Saddle-shaped large false morel of eastern hardwoods. Same gyromitrin caveats as G. esculenta — skip.
Edibility
Edible
Rarity
uncommon
Trophic mode
saprotrophic
Typical peak
Apr–May
Season
Mar–Jun — typical fruiting months: Feb, Mar, Apr, May.
Host trees & substrate
- Decaying oak wood and forest litter
- Decaying beech wood and forest litter
- Decaying maple wood and forest litter
- Decaying birch wood and forest litter
Where it grows
See live fruiting predictions for Elephant Ear on the forecast home page, or browse the full field guide.
Always confirm wild-mushroom identification with multiple sources and a knowledgeable local expert before consuming. Read the foraging safety guide.