Morchella semilibera

Morchella semilibera
A half-free morel in Ohio, USA
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Ascomycota
Class:	Pezizomycetes
Order:	Pezizales
Family:	Morchellaceae
Genus:	Morchella
Species:	M. semilibera
Binomial name
Morchella semilibera DC. 1805
Synonyms
Mitrophora semilibera (DC.) Lév 1846 Morchella patula var. semilibera (DC.) S. Imai 1954

Morchella semilibera
Mycological characteristics
	smooth hymenium
	cap is conical or ovate
	hymenium attachment is irregular or not applicable
	stipe is bare
	spore print is cream to yellow
	ecology is mycorrhizal or saprotrophic
	edibility: choice

Morchella semilibera, commonly called the half-free morel, is a group of species of fungi in the Morchellaceae family native to Europe, Asia, and North America.^[1][2]

Based on recent DNA analysis, Morchella semilibera appears to be a cryptic species complex, consisting of at least three geographically isolated species that appear nearly identical on a macroscopic scale.^[3] Because de Candolle originally described the species based on specimens from Europe, the scientific name M. semilibera should be applied to the European species, with the two new species, one each in eastern and western North America, requiring new scientific names.^[1] The M. semilibera group is closely related to the black morels (M. elata and others).^[3]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Kuo M. (April 2006). "Half-free morels (Morchella species)". MushroomExpert.com. http://www.mushroomexpert.com/morchella_half-free.html. Retrieved 2011-04-18. 
2. ^ Gibson, Ian (2009). "Morels & False Morels of the Pacific Northwest: An Introduction". Pacific Northwest Key Council. http://www.svims.ca/council/Morels.htm. Retrieved 2011-04-18. 
3. ^ ^{a b} O'Donnell K, Rooney AP, Mills GL, Kuo M, Weber NS, Rehner SA (Mar 2011). "Phylogeny and historical biogeography of true morels (Morchella) reveals an early Cretaceous origin and high continental endemism and provincialism in the Holarctic". Fungal Genetics and Biology 48 (3): 252–265. doi:10.1016/j.fgb.2010.09.006. PMID 20888422. 

External links

• Morchella semilibera in Index Fungorum.
• Morchella semilibera in MycoBank.