| Morchellaceae | |
|---|---|
| Morchella conica | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Phylum: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Ascomycetes |
| Order: | Pezizales |
| Family: | Morchellaceae Rchb. (1834) |
| Type genus | |
| Morchella Dill. ex Pers. (1794) |
|
| Genera | |
The Morchellaceae are a family of ascomycete fungi. According to a standard reference work, the family contains 49 species distributed among 4 genera.[1] The best-known members are the highly-regarded and commercially picked true morels of the genus Morchella, the thimble morels of the genus Verpa, and a genus of cup-shaped fungi Disciotis.
Analysis of the ribosomal DNA of many of the Pezizales showed the three genera Verpa , Morchella, and Disciotis to be closely related. Thus they are now included in the family Morchellaceae.[2]
Other than the anamorph genus Costantinella, the three remaining genera of Morchellaceae are distinguished by ascocarp morphology. Morchella species have an ascocarp with a sponge-like pileus, with a hollow stipe and pileus. Verpa species have a cup-like or thimble-shaped, smooth or wrinkled pileus above a hollow stipe. Disciotis has a cup-like pileus with vein-like hymenial folds and a small or nonexistent stipe.[3] The ascospores are ellipsoid, smooth, and usually hyaline.[4]