Morchella vulgaris

Morchella vulgaris is a widespread fungus of the family Morchellaceae (Ascomycota). It was originally described in 1801 as a form of the common yellow morel (Morchella esculenta) by mycologist Christiaan Hendrik Persoon, but was later recombined as a distinct species by Samuel Gray.^[1]

Morchella vulgaris
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Ascomycota
Class:	Pezizomycetes
Order:	Pezizales
Family:	Morchellaceae
Genus:	Morchella
Species:	M. vulgaris
Binomial name
Morchella vulgaris (Pers.) Gray (1821)

Owing to its high morphological plasticity, its taxonomical status had long been in flux, sometimes treated as a variety of, or conspecific to Morchella esculenta,^[2][3] while at the same time several forms and varieties of M. vulgaris itself have been described.^[4] An extensive phylogenetic and nomenclatural study by Richard and colleagues in 2014, confirmed the status of Morchella vulgaris as a distinct species, and resolved several of its synonymities.^[5]

This species is characterised by the predominantly grey colours of its cap and "blistered", highly irregular appearance of its ridges and pits.

Morchella vulgaris