The mystery of wildfires and the burn morel mushroom
Walking Mountains Science Center
Adobe Stock Image/Licensed by Walking Mountains Science Center
Wildfires have raged rampant in our beautiful state for hundreds of millions of years throughout different types of landscapes. Everyone and everything that lives here must find ways to survive and adapt to these environmental disasters.
We’ve been fortunate in Eagle County this year to have consistent rainfall, keeping our dangers manageable. However, recent fires on the Front Range and the West Coast and Canada tell another story. Many of us can remember recent years when we were not as fortunate here in Eagle County.
Even though most wildfires are started naturally by the heat produced from lightning striking dry land, humans must also make sure not to increase the risk of starting forest fires. Simple actions such as fully putting out campfires and other objects that could spark flames are the best ways to be safe during wildfire season.
Some animals choose to avoid the harm from fires by standing in streams, hiding in rock piles, or even burying themselves in dirt. Plants can shed their lower branches to reduce the spread of fire or use the heat to stimulate new growth. One interesting Colorado species that thrives after a wildfire are burn morel mushrooms.
Burn morel (Morchella spp.) mushrooms, or post-fire morels, are a prime example of something beautiful coming from a great disturbance. When an area of forest is burned, morels can grow prolifically all over the ground.
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Mycelium is the underground root-like part of a mushroom. The mycelium of burn morel mushrooms has a mutually beneficial relationship with the roots of various types of trees. The underground root systems of the trees and the mushrooms are intertwined. The mycelium may lay dormant for up to 50 years, only fruiting mushrooms after a fire comes through.
Burn morel are edible fungi that are extremely rare, but they are on every mushroom forager’s most wanted list. Characterized by their pinecone shape, burn morel mushrooms can range in color from black to gray, green, pink or even yellow.
The burn morels we can find in Colorado follow a set of three characteristics: They only grow in conifer (needle-bearing trees) forests, they only grow in the Western United States, and they only grow after a fire.
There are five species of these fire mushrooms, each with their own unique traits, but they all follow the same set of rules. Scientists have yet to discover the definitive reason that morels bloom after a fire disturbance. Many believe it is due to the change in soil chemistry after burning, or because of the influx of nutrients released by heat produced by the flames. This mystery may never be solved, but avid foragers and mycologists alike can marvel at the wonders of burn morels!
The best way to find burn morels in Colorado is to start looking in the right habitat. Be sure to look in conifer forests, within the first year after a large burn. Burn morels are typically found above 8,000-9,000 feet. Eliminating low-elevation regions and old burned areas can help narrow down a foraging location. Dark and moist areas are also good habitat characteristics for finding morels and other fungi. When you come across burn morels, make sure you’re confident in your identification before consuming them.
Burn morel mushrooms can bring some excitement and joy to wildfire season. They give a whole new meaning to burnt areas. When you look at burn scars, you can see new life stemming from the flames.
