Morchella mediterraneensis
Morchella mediterraneensis is a species of true morel, classified under the family Morchellaceae. First described in 2016, it belongs to the elata subclade. The species is notable for its distribution in Mediterranean regions, where it is one of the most common morel species.
Taxonomy and naming
The species was described by Taşkın, Büyükalaca, and Doğan in 2016 based on its morphological and molecular characteristics. The specific epithet mediterraneensis reflects one of its prevalence is in the Mediterranean biogeographical zone.Description
The ascocarps are medium-sized, ranging from in height. The pileus is hollow, conical, and features a deep, narrow sulcus where it attaches to the stipe. The ridges are dark violet to black, while the pits are light gray to olive gray with bluish tinges when young, maturing to a honey-brown to golden-brown hue. The stipe is hollow and often constricted at the base, becoming cream-white to light honey-brown with age.Spores are elliptical to oblong, measuring 20–24 × 11.2–13.8 μm, with faint wrinkling visible under scanning electron microscopy. Paraphyses are 2–4-septate, cylindrical, or clavate, while acroparaphyses are lanceolate to clavate with thickened walls.