''Morchella semilibera'', commonly called the half-free morel, is a species of

fungus A fungus (: fungi , , , or ; or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and mold (fungus), molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as one ...

in the family

Morchellaceae The Morchellaceae are a family of ascomycete fungi in the order Pezizales. According to a standard reference work, the family has contained at least 49 species distributed among four genera. However, in 2012, five genera that produce ascoma tha ...

. It is native to Eurasia and is

edible An edible item is any item that is safe for humans to eat. "Edible" is differentiated from " eatable" because it does not indicate how an item tastes, only whether it is fit to be eaten. Nonpoisonous items found in nature – such as some mushroo ...

Taxonomy

DNA analysis Genetic testing, also known as DNA testing, is used to identify changes in DNA sequence or chromosome structure. Genetic testing can also include measuring the results of genetic changes, such as RNA analysis as an output of gene expression, or ...

has shown that the half-free morels, which appear nearly identical on a

macroscopic scale The macroscopic scale is the length scale on which objects or phenomena are large enough to be visible with the naked eye, without magnifying optical instruments. It is the opposite of microscopic. Overview When applied to physical phenom ...

, are a

cryptic species complex In biology, a species complex is a group of closely related organisms that are so similar in appearance and other features that the boundaries between them are often unclear. The taxa in the complex may be able to hybridize readily with each oth ...

, consisting of at least three geographically isolated species. Because

de Candolle Augustin Pyramus (or Pyrame) de Candolle (, , ; 4 February 17789 September 1841) was a Swiss people, Swiss botany, botanist. René Louiche Desfontaines launched de Candolle's botanical career by recommending him at a herbarium. Within a couple ...

originally described the species based on specimens from Europe, the

scientific name In Taxonomy (biology), taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, both of which use Latin gramm ...

''M. semilibera'' should be restricted to the European species. In 2012, '' Morchella populiphila'' was described from western North America, while

Peck A peck is an imperial and United States customary unit of dry volume, equivalent to 8 dry quarts or 16 dry pints. An imperial peck is equivalent to 9.09218 liters and a US customary peck is equivalent to 8.80976754172 liters. Four pecks ma ...

's 1903 species name '' Morchella punctipes'' was reaffirmed for eastern North American half-free morels. ''M. semilibera'' and the other half-free morels are closely related to the black morels ('' M. elata'' and others). A proposal has been made to conserve the name ''Morchella semilibera'' against several earlier

synonyms A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means precisely or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words ''begin'', ''start'', ''commence'', and ''initiate'' are a ...

, including ''Phallus crassipes'', ''P. gigas'' and ''P. undosus''. These names, sanctioned by

Elias Magnus Fries Elias Magnus Fries (15 August 1794 – 8 February 1878) was a Swedish mycologist and botanist. He is sometimes called the Mycology, "Linnaeus of Mycology". In his works he described and assigned botanical names to hundreds of fungus and li ...

, have since been shown to be the same species as ''M. semilibera''.

Description

The cap grows up to tall and wide, round at first and then conical. The ridges are vertical and slightly darker than the pits, blackish when dry. The underside is whitish and the flesh thin. The buff stalk is up to 10 cm long and 2.5 cm thick. The spores are elliptical and smooth. In age, when the head is smaller compared to the stalk, it can resemble ''

Verpa ''Verpa'' is a genus of ascomycete fungi related to the morels. Resembling the latter genus in edibility and form, the common name early morels is popular. There are five species in the widespread genus. Taxonomy Analysis of the ribosomal DNA o ...

'' species.

Distribution and habitat

The species is native to Europe and Asia. It grows individually or in groups in wooded areas.

Uses

The species is

, but is fragile and not very flavorful.

References

External links

* * * semilibera Edible fungi Fungi described in 1805 Fungi of Asia Fungi of Europe Taxa named by Augustin Pyramus de Candolle Fungus species {{Pezizomycetes-stub