​In a slight deviation from the norm, this week we are featuring an organism of the week. It is not a plant, but a fungus: Morchella esculenta.
  
Morchella esculenta, also known as the Golden or Yellow Morel, is a highly coveted culinary delight that can be found throughout much of North America with sporadic appearances in China and Japan, as well as parts of eastern Europe. Ranging from 3”-8” tall and varying wildly in mature shape, these fungus fruiting bodies feature tan to yellow pitted caps and smooth tan stems. The fruiting body is hollow all the way through and tends to act as both shelter and food for visiting insects like slugs, snails, beetles, and isopods. There are other species of Morel and Morel-adjacent fungus including the Black Morel (Morchella angusticeps) and Half Free Morels (Morchella punctipes) that can resemble a Yellow Morel and are also edible but are less common and less desirable.  
  
Appearing once soil temperatures average 50 degrees Fahrenheit and spring rains have added moisture to the forests, morels begin to appear seemingly overnight. They grow for a few days before beginning to decline and turn to mush or dry out, becoming shriveled and hard depending on the weather. Morels, like most fungus, form mycorrhizal relationships with certain species of trees. Known associate trees include Cherry, Maple, Oak, Elm, Ash, Sycamore, and Tulip Poplar, but may include more. To increase your chance of finding morels, become familiar with the habitat in which these trees are found, which is most commonly lowland forests. In addition, be sure to keep an eye out for trees that appear to be dying but not completely dead. The fruiting bodies of Morels are usually only present through April and May and will not appear until the following spring once sightings have stopped.   
  
To prepare Morels ‘Brad’s Way’ follow these directions*:  
  

1. Collect fresh morels, being sure to remove as much soil and debris as possible.  
2. Soak the Morels in a hot salty brine for no less than 10 minutes to kill off any small bugs or other invertebrates that may be hiding inside or among the many crevices of the mushroom’s surface and wash thoroughly. Some people let them soak overnight for added precaution.  
3. Slice mushrooms vertically to expose the hollow center and clean them out as you would any other fresh produce. Some larger fruiting bodies may be sliced an additional time to get them to a more manageable size in the pan and to cook through if smaller pieces are also present.  
4. Add a generous portion of butter to a pan heated over medium heat, enough to coat the mushrooms thoroughly and prevent burning.  
5. Add sliced mushrooms to pan cut side down and let it cook for 3-4 minutes before turning and cooking until the mushrooms have browned and softened. Add salt, pepper, and half of a thinly sliced shallot to the pan partway through cooking, if desired.   
6. Enjoy!  

  
*As with any found and foraged foods, or foods you may have never tried before, it is advised to sample small portions of Morel before consuming a larger portion to prevent gastrointestinal distress. If you have not eaten them before, you cannot be sure how your body will react, and it is always better to be safe than sorry.  
  
Happy hunting! 

​Put on your racing shoes and fill up your tires--Sycamore Park District’s Great Western Trail bridge is in! The steel pedestrian bridge is part of a 0.8-mile extension of the trail to bring walkers, runners, and cyclists to the eastern end of downtown Sycamore. ERA has been the onsite construction engineer over the last 7 months, and the project is on target to open later this Spring.

​Leaves of three, leave it be.
 
By popular demand, this week’s plant of the week is Poison Ivy, also known as Toxicodendron radicans. As we progress into the growing season it is important to know which plants are friend and which are…less friendly. Because all native plants have their purpose, none are foes.
 
Poison Ivy is an annual woody vine in the cashew family Anacardiacae (related to cashews, pistachios, and mangos) found commonly throughout Illinois and most of the Midwest, where it establishes in moist forests, savannas, and forest edge habitats, often in the areas surrounding wetlands and streams. The plant is a woody vine that grows up to 60’ vertically up trees, posts, or buildings when supported, or in a low loose mounding shrub when grown in the open. Emerging in spring, the young leaflets appear in groups of 3 and can range from yellow to bright green to red as they emerge early in the season. Mature leaves adopt a waxy finish and continue to be a range of greens and reds, and are even highly variable in final leaf shape, with some having smooth or lobed margins. As such, this plant can be difficult to identify without the proper knowledge and terminology. Other species in this genus include Toxicodendron diversilobum (Poison Oak), another vine native to the western US, and Toxicodendron vernix (Poison Sumac), a shrub that is native to Illinois but occurs only in higher quality wetland habitats and is much less common than its relatives.
 
The irritating oil Urushiol is found throughout the plant, including the woody vine, and is released when the foliage is bruised or the stem damaged. Not all people are susceptible to a reaction; however, as people age, the oil can cause reactions in people who were previously immune. Reactions can range from simple contact dermatitis in the form of a red itching rash, more severe cases can result in blisters and hospitalization. If poison ivy is burned in a brush pile, the aerosolized oils can result in anaphylaxis and death if not treated. Dried urushiol can remain potent on cut vines, pet hair, and even contaminated tools for an extended period so it is best to wash everything with soap targeted toward oil/grease if you suspect contamination or have been working with the plant on your property (Dawn kitchen soap or any other grease-centric soap works well for this purpose). If you think you have been exposed to urushiol, it is best to wash the area as soon as possible and monitor the area to watch for worsening symptoms. Exposure is best prevented by wearing long pants, closed-toe shoes or boots, and long sleeve shirts to prevent direct skin contact.
Fortunately, nature works to balance itself out and the best-known remedy for urushiol-based dermatitis is the Illinois native Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis), which is the primary active ingredient in many anti-itch ointments and can be found in the same moist woods where Poison Ivy is prevalent. More severe exposure resulting in hospitalization requires treatment by prescription strength steroid creams.

​ERA spent Wednesday evening picking up trash along the DuPage River in Naperville as part of The Conservation Foundation's Adopt-A-Stream program. We collected 10 bags' worth of trash and debris from the area - a very successful cleanup! To learn more about the Adopt-A-Stream program and river cleanup events in your area, visit: https://bit.ly/3ffrDBP

​ERA welcomes Sarah Mytnik as our new Operations Coordinator! Learn more about Sarah below.

This week’s plant of the week is Pedicularis canadensis, also known as Wood Betony or Lousewort.
 
Pedicularis canadensis is an uncommon plant found throughout Illinois that is more frequently found in the northern half of the state. Growing low to the ground in clumping rosettes, the plant grows no taller than a foot in height. Wood Betony can be found in varied habitats from open prairie to woodland clearings where sun shines through and can tolerate sandy soil in addition to rich black soil of the prairie. The flowers being quite unique, this plant attracts native pollinators such as mason bees and bumblebees and is one of the more unique displays of inflorescence on the prairie.
 
One of the serious issues faced by a short plant in a tallgrass prairie is competition from the surrounding tallgrass keystone species, such as Big Bluestem or Indian Grass. Wood Betony has found an unusual solution in that it is hemiparasitic; attaching its roots to adjacent grasses to steal nutrients for its own use (despite producing its own chlorophyll for photosynthesis anyway), the surrounding vegetation is frequently shorter in stature than its neighbors as a result.
 
Pedicularis canadensis has seen many uses over the years, from medicinal infusions, ingredients in cooking and animal feed, and was once even believed to keep pests away from livestock (hence the common name “Lousewort”).