means half free, and it is so called because the cap is
bell-shaped and the lower half is free from the stem. The cap is rarely
more than one inch long, and is usually much shorter than the stem, as
is indicated in Figure 414. The pits on the cap are longer than broad.
The stem is white or whitish and somewhat mealy or scurvy, hollow, and
often swollen at the base. I found the specimens in Figure 414 about the
last of May under elm trees, in James Dunlap's woods. They are quite
plentiful there. I do not detect any difference in the flavor of these
and other species.

_Morchella bispora. Sor._

THE TWO-SPORED MOREL. EDIBLE.

[Illustration: Figure 415.--Morchella bispora. One-half natural size.]

[Illustration: Plate LIII. Figure 416.--Morchella bispora.

The two-spored Morel. Edible. Showing the cap free from the stem quite
to the top.]

Bispora, two-spored, differs from the other species in the fact that the
cap is free from the stem quite to the top. The distinguishing
characteristic, which gives name to the species, can be seen only by the
aid of a strong microscope. In this species there are only two spores in
each ascus or sac, and these are much larger than in the other species,
which have eight spores in a sac or ascus. The ridges, as will be seen
in Figure 415, run from the top to the bottom. The stem is much longer
than the cap, hollow, and sometimes swollen at the base. The whole plant
is fragile and very tender. The plants in Figure 415 were collected in
Michigan by Prof. Longyear. Those in the full page display were found
near Columbus and were photographed by Dr. Kellerman. It seems to have a
wide range, but is nowhere very plentiful.

The spores can be readily obtained from morels by taking a mature
specimen and placing it on white paper under a glass for a few hours.

The beginner will find much difficulty in identifying the species of
Morels; but if he is collecting them for food he need not give the
matter any thought, since none need be avoided, and they are so
characteristic that no one need be afraid to gather them.

_Morchella crassipes. Pers._

THE GIGANTIC MOREL. EDIBLE.

Crassipes is from _crassus_, thick; _pes_, foot.

The cap resembles the cap of M. esculenta in its form and irregular
pitting, but it is quite a little larger. The stem is very stout, much
longer than the pileus, often very much wrinkled and folded. I have
found only a few specimens of this species. Found in Apr