Morchella populiphila

Morchella populiphila
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Ascomycota
Class:	Pezizomycetes
Order:	Pezizales
Family:	Morchellaceae
Genus:	Morchella
Species:	M. populiphila
Binomial name
Morchella populiphila M.Kuo, M.C.Carter & J.D.Moore (2012)

Morchella populiphila is a species of morel fungus (family Morchellaceae) native to northwestern North America. Described as new to science in 2012, its specific epithet refers to its association with black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa). The morel used to be referred to as Morchella semilibera in western North American field guides until molecular analysis established that to be a strictly European species. M. populiphila occurs in California, Nevada and Oregon. Its fruit bodies grow up to 15 cm (6 in) tall with a ridged and pitted conical cap that attaches about halfway down the stipe. The cap ridges are dark brown to black in maturity, while the pits are yellowish to brownish. The fungus is edible, although not as highly valued as other morels.

Morchella populiphila is one of three species of fungi commonly referred to as "half-free" morels, the others being Morchella punctipes in eastern North America and Morchella semilibera in Europe.

Morchella populiphila was one of 14 new Morchella species described in 2012 by Michael Kuo and colleagues as a result of the Morel Data Collection Project, which was aimed at clarifying the biology, taxonomy, and distribution of morel species in the United States and Canada. The type locality is in Jackson County, Oregon. The fungus used to be referred to as Morchella semilibera (the "half-free morel") in western North American field guides until molecular analysis established that to be a strictly European species. It was previously referred to as phylogenetic species Mel-5 (i.e., identified based on DNA sequence) in a 2011 publication. The specific epithet populiphila refers to its association with the tree species Populus trichocarpa.

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Wikipedia