Turreted False Morel
Gyromitra fastigiata
deadly
Distribution
Europe, particularly Central and Eastern Europe. Less common than G. esculenta but equally dangerous.
Habitat
Saprotrophic in deciduous forests, especially under beech and oak.
Season
Spring to early summer.
Toxin Type
Gyromitrin
Symptoms
Gyromitrin poisoning: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, then liver damage, seizures, and coma. Gyromitrin metabolizes to monomethylhydrazine (rocket fuel component).
User Reported Vision
Turreted patterns rose like castle towers. Fastigiate false morel spirits built impossible spires. The world tilted at impossible angles.