Snow Mushroom

Gyromitra gigas

Family: Discinaceae

Also called: Snow Morel, Snow Mushroom, Bull Nose

Snow Mushroom (Gyromitra gigas)
Photo:This image was created by user Ron Pastorino (Ronpast) at Mushroom Observer , a source for mycological images. You can c(CC BY-SA 3.0)View original source →

Overview

Western false morel of melting snowbanks under conifers. Eaten in some regions after parboiling and discard — but gyromitrin is cumulative; 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 pine wood and forest litter
  • Decaying hemlock wood and forest litter

Where it grows

See live fruiting predictions for Snow Mushroom 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.