False Morel

I find these mushrooms growing on the forest floor in the spring. They are always dark in color - some varieties are reddish like this one. They may have hollow spots in the cap but the stem isn't hollow like it is in a true morel. The false morel resembles a brain while the true morel looks more like a sponge. The biggest difference is that, while true morels are a culinary delight, false morels should be considered poisonous and can cause death.