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Morchella sp.
I was actually shocked to this fungus on our hotel grounds, growing under our native Manzanita trees (a type of wild crab apple Crataegus mexicana). I've seen pictures of Morels and never thought I would actually see one. I shouldn't have been shocked because it turns out that Morels have been used as food by native peoples (Tzotzil and Tzeltal Maya) for centuries in the highlands of Chiapas. This is probably one of the "yellow Morels". They grow slowly over about 15 days and then fall over, as in the first, second and last pictures. The first and last pictures also show the habitat and the mushroom's claw-like grip on the soil (there is small Manzanita apple there as well). The third picture shows a close-up of the structure of the mushroom, which is like a fascinating alien ear and full of hiding places for insects. These grew in late September and not in the Spring.
Leaf litter under Manzanita trees, San Cristobal de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico, 2,200 meters.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morchella https://untamedfeast.com/morel-mushrooms... https://www.amazon.com/Gallboys-Mushroom... (You can even buy Morel Mushroom Kits on Amazon!) https://www.sciencedaily.com/terms/morel... https://www.wideopenspaces.com/myth-bust... For Morels in Chiapas see: https://www.researchgate.net/publication...
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