''Verpa'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

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 defi ...

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 with ...

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

'' 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 ''Gyromitra esculenta'' is an ascomycete fungus from the genus ''Gyromitra'', widely distributed across Europe and North America. It normally fruits in sandy soils under coniferous trees in spring and early summer. The fruiting body, or mush ...

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 (mu ...

. 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 chromos ...

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 white tr ...

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

Morchella ''Morchella'', the true morels, is a genus of edible ascomycota, sac fungi closely related to anatomically simpler Cup fungus, cup fungi in the order Pezizales (division (mycology), division Ascomycota). These distinctive fungi have a honeycomb ...

'', 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 that ...

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 wrinkle ...

'' - 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 rese ...

'' - 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