''Verpa'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

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. ''Verpa'' comes from the

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

for '' erection'' or ''little rod'' (also a vulgarity for phallus). Edibility of ''Verpa'' is the same as for ''Morchella'', and are safe if cooked. ''Gyromitra'', by contrast has a couple of dangerously toxic species being Gyromitra esculenta and

Gyromitra ambigua ''Gyromitra ambigua'' is an ascomycete fungus species of the genus ''Gyromitra'', and related to the false morel '' G. esculenta''. It belongs to the Pezizales order. The species is found in North America, where it produces fruit bodies ...

. Analysis of the

ribosomal DNA Ribosomal DNA (rDNA) is a DNA sequence that codes for ribosomal RNA. These sequences regulate transcription initiation and amplification, and contain both transcribed and non-transcribed spacer segments. In the human genome there are 5 chromo ...

of many of the Pezizales showed the genus ''Verpa'' to be closely related to the genus '' Morchella'', 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 ...

Species

Species include: *''

Verpa bohemica ''Verpa bohemica'' is a species of fungus in the family Morchellaceae. Commonly known as the early morel or the wrinkled thimble-cap. The mushroom has a pale yellow or brown thimble-shaped cap— in diameter by long—that has a surface wrinkl ...

'' - early morel. : Edible if 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 fungi in the family Morchellaceae. Sometimes mistaken for a true morel (genus '' Morchella''), this species is an “early morel” characterized by a cap re ...

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

Verpa digitaliformis ''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. ''Verpa'' comes from the Latin for '' e ...

'' *''

Verpa krombholzii ''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. ''Verpa'' comes from the Latin for '' e ...

'' *''

Verpa speciosa ''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. ''Verpa'' comes from the Latin for '' e ...

References

External links

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

Species

See also

References

External links