Verpa

Verpa
V. conica
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Ascomycetes
Order: Pezizales
Family: Morchellaceae
Genus: Verpa
Sw. (1815)
Type species
Verpa conica
(O.F.Müll.) Sw. (1815)
Synonyms[1]

Monka Adans. (1763)
Relhanum Gray (1821)

Verpa is a genus of ascomycete fungi related to the morels. Resembling the latter genus, they are called false or early morels. There are five species in the widespread genus.[2]

Verpa comes from the Latin for erection or little rod.

Analysis of the ribosomal DNA of many of the Pezizales showed the genus Verpa to be closely related to the genus Morchella, and also Disciotis. Thus the three genera are now included in the family Morchellaceae.[3]

Species

Species include:

Edible if prepared properly. Found in North America, in early spring, April-May in damp places, under poplar[4]
Edible if properly prepared. Found in North America, in orchards, in eastern Canada.

References

  1. ^ "Verpa Sw. 1814". MycoBank. International Mycological Association. http://www.mycobank.org/MycoTaxo.aspx?Link=T&Rec=5723. Retrieved 2011-07-24. 
  2. ^ Kirk PM, Cannon PF, Minter DW, Stalpers JA. (2008). Dictionary of the Fungi (10th ed.). Wallingford, UK: CABI. p. 723. ISBN 9780851998268. 
  3. ^ O'Donnell K, Cigelnik E, Weber NS, Trappe JM. (1997). "Phylogenetic relationships among ascomycetous truffles and the true and false morels inferred from 18S and 28S ribosomal DNA sequence analysis". Mycologia 89 (1): 48–65. doi:10.2307/3761172. JSTOR 3761172. 
  4. ^ Barnard, Edward S., ed (1998). "Mushrooms". Reader's Digest North American Wildlife: Trees and Nonflowering Plants. The Reader's Digest Association, Inc. p. 268. ISBN 0-7621-0037-0. 

External links