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Giant False Morel, Snow Morel, Snow False Morel
Gyromitra gigas, the snow false morel, is a large spring false morel with a tan, wrinkled cap on a very thick whitish stem. Wikipedia now treats it as Discina gigas, a European species; the similar North American snowbank false morel is Discina (Gyromitra) montana. It contains much less gyromitrin than G. esculenta, but false morels vary and it should not be eaten.
Not recommended; treat as poisonous. Like other false morels it can contain gyromitrin, which the body converts to toxic monomethylhydrazine. Older guides call it edible after parboiling, but toxin levels vary between collections and no preparation makes a false morel reliably safe. Distinguish true morels (Morchella), which are hollow from cap to stem base when sliced lengthwise.
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Mycology is an evolving science: names, classifications and safety information change as research advances. Entries are compiled from cited sources and reviewed, but may be incomplete or out of date — check the sources, and never rely on this library alone to identify or eat a mushroom.
