unknown collection © B. Hofer

Coll. G00576168 © M. Cravero

Morchella helvetica M. Cravero, G. Bonito, P. Chain, S. Bindschedler & P. Junier, Mycologia, 116 (6): 1104 (2024).

Basionym Morchella helvetica M. Cravero, G. Bonito, P. Chain, S. Bindschedler & P. Junier, Mycologia, 116 (6): 1104 (2024).

Diagnosis Morchella helvetica belongs to Morchella sect. Distantes and represents a sister taxon of the subgroup M. angusticeps/M. eximioides/M. confusa. Morchella helvetica is phylogenetically distinct from sister species by RPB2 and TEF1-α sequences. It is similar to M. eximioides but differs by its phenology (M. eximioides fruits between May and June [Weholt et al. 2020] whereas M. helvetica fruits between March and April). Morchella helvetica can be also distinguished morphologically by the stipe texture (tomentose and furfurasceous in M. eximioides [Jacquetant 1984] and mealy in M. helvetica) and by darkening of the pileus ridges when aging (feature also observed in M. eximioides [Du et al. 2019]). Furthermore, the presence of pale dense hairs on ridges and alveoli seems to be typical of M. helvetica compared with other members of Morchella sect. Distantes.

Type G00576168 - holotypus

MycoBank 855081

Classification: Morchellaceae, Morchella

Created on 18/03/2025.

Updated on 18/03/2025.