''Verpa'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

ascomycete Ascomycota is a phylum of the kingdom Fungi that, together with the Basidiomycota, forms the subkingdom Dikarya. Its members are commonly known as the sac fungi or ascomycetes. It is the largest phylum of Fungi, with over 64,000 species. The def ...

fungi related to the

morel ''Morchella'', the true morels, is a genus of edible sac fungi closely related to anatomically simpler cup fungi in the order Pezizales ( division Ascomycota). These distinctive fungi have a honeycomb appearance due to the network of ridges ...

s. 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 The ribosomal DNA (rDNA) consists of a group of ribosomal RNA encoding genes and related regulatory elements, and is widespread in similar configuration in all domains of life. The ribosomal DNA encodes the non-coding ribosomal RNA, integral struc ...

of many of the

Pezizales The Pezizales are an order of the subphylum Pezizomycotina within the phylum Ascomycota. The order contains 16 families, 199 genera, and 1683 species. It contains a number of species of economic importance, such as morels, the black and whit ...

showed the genus ''Verpa'' to be closely related to the genus ''

Morchella ''Morchella'', the true morels, is a genus of edible sac fungi closely related to anatomically simpler cup fungi in the order Pezizales ( division Ascomycota). These distinctive fungi have a honeycomb appearance due to the network of ridges w ...

'', and also ''

Disciotis ''Disciotis'' is a genus of fungi in the family Morchellaceae. Members of this family, characterized by their cup- or bowl-shaped apothecia, have a widespread distribution, especially in northern temperate regions. Description ''Disciotis'' has ...

''. Thus the three genera are now included 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 ...

Species

Species include: *''

Verpa bohemica ''Verpa bohemica'' is a species of fungus in the family Morchellaceae. The synonym ''Ptychoverpa bohemica'' is often used by European mycologists and it is commonly known as the early morel or the wrinkled thimble-cap. The mushroom has a pale ye ...

'' - early morel. : Edible if well cooked. Found in North America, in early spring, April–May in damp places, under poplar *''

Verpa conica ''Verpa conica'', commonly known as the bell morel or the early morel, is a species of fungus in the family Morchellaceae. Sometimes mistaken for a true morel, this species is characterized by a pileus (mycology), cap resembling a thimble that i ...

'' - bell or conic morel. : Edible if well cooked. Found in North America, in orchards, in eastern Canada. *''Verpa digitaliformis'' *''Verpa krombholzii'' *''Verpa speciosa''

Etymology

''Verpa'' comes from the

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

word for ''

erection An erection (clinically: penile erection or penile tumescence) is a Physiology, physiological phenomenon in which the penis becomes firm, engorged, and enlarged. Penile erection is the result of a complex interaction of psychological, neural, ...

References

External links

*
California Fungi: ''Verpa conica''Roger's Mushrooms: ''Verpa bohemica''
Morchellaceae Pezizales genera {{Pezizomycetes-stub