Verpa conica
Encyclopedia
Verpa conica, commonly known as the bell morel or the thimble fungus, is a species of fungi in the family
Morchellaceae
. Sometimes mistaken for a true morel (Morchella genus), this species is a "false morel
" characterized by a cap resembling a thimble
that is freely attached to the stem
.
in 1775. Later authors have moved the taxon to various genera: Persoon placed in Leotia
in 1801, Samuel Frederick Gray
transferred it Relhanum in 1821, while Otto Kuntze
moved it to Monka in 1898. The species was transferred to Verpa
by Olof Swartz
in 1814.
that is bell-shaped or conical, and 1.5 to 4 cm (0.590551181102362 to 1.6 in) broad; it is attached to the top of the stem only, the margin of the cap is free – hanging like a skirt. The underside of the cap is tan
to dark brown in color. The stem
, which measures 5 to 11 cm (2 to 4.3 in) by 1 to 1.5 cm (0.393700787401575 to 0.590551181102362 in) thick, is white and tapers upwards so that the apex is slightly thicker than the base; the stem surface is either smooth or slightly fuzzy. It is generally hollow, although young specimens may be filled with cotton-like hypha
e. The flesh
is thin and brittle, and the cap can be easily broken off the stem.
David Arora
notes that sometimes a variety with a wrinkled cap can be found, somewhat resembling a Gyromitra
.
s are elliptical, smooth, hyaline
, with dimensions of 28–34 by 15–19 µm
. The asci
are typically 500–550 by 21–27 µm, and eight spored. The paraphyses
are club-shaped, branched, and septate
.
and coniferous forests, often in river valleys, or along stream banks. It often fruits in late spring, usually near morel
season. It has been reported to fruit abundantly in the chaparral
scrubland in southern California.
, which is not recommended for consumption.
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Morchellaceae
Morchellaceae
The Morchellaceae are a family of ascomycete fungi. According to a standard reference work, the family contains 49 species distributed among 4 genera...
. Sometimes mistaken for a true morel (Morchella genus), this species is a "false morel
False morel
Gyromitra esculenta , one of several species of fungi known as false morels, is an ascomycete fungus from the genus Gyromitra, widely distributed across Europe and North America. It normally sprouts in sandy soils under coniferous trees in spring and early summer...
" characterized by a cap resembling a thimble
Thimble
A thimble is a small hard pitted cup worn for protection on the finger that pushes the needle in sewing.The earliest known thimble was Roman and was found at Pompeii. Made of bronze, its creation has been dated to the 1st century AD...
that is freely attached to the stem
Stipe (mycology)
thumb|150px|right|Diagram of a [[basidiomycete]] stipe with an [[annulus |annulus]] and [[volva |volva]]In mycology a stipe refers to the stem or stalk-like feature supporting the cap of a mushroom. Like all tissues of the mushroom other than the hymenium, the stipe is composed of sterile hyphal...
.
Taxonomy
The species was first described under the name Phallus conicus by Otto Friedrich MüllerOtto Friedrich Müller
Otto Friedrich Müller, also Mueller was a Danish naturalist.-Biography:Müller was born in Copenhagen. He was educated for the church, became tutor to a young nobleman, and after several years' travel with him settled in Copenhagen in 1767, and married a lady of wealth.His first important works,...
in 1775. Later authors have moved the taxon to various genera: Persoon placed in Leotia
Leotia
Leotia is a genus of cup fungi of the phylum Ascomycota. Leotia species are globally distributed, and are believed to be saprobic. They are commonly known as jelly babies because of the gelatinous texture of their fruiting bodies.-Biology:...
in 1801, Samuel Frederick Gray
Samuel Frederick Gray
Samuel Frederick Gray was a British botanist, mycologist, and pharmacologist. He was the father of the zoologists John Edward Gray and George Robert Gray.-Background:...
transferred it Relhanum in 1821, while Otto Kuntze
Otto Kuntze
Otto Carl Ernst Kuntze was a German botanist.-Biography:Otto Kuntze was born in Leipzig.An apothecary in his early career, he published an essay entitled Pocket Fauna of Leipzig. Between 1863 and...
moved it to Monka in 1898. The species was transferred to Verpa
Verpa
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.Verpa comes from the Latin for erection or little rod....
by Olof Swartz
Olof Swartz
Olof Peter Swartz was a Swedish botanist and taxonomist. He is best known for his taxonomic work and studies into pteridophytes...
in 1814.
Description
Fruiting bodies have a smooth capPileus (mycology)
The pileus is the technical name for the cap, or cap-like part, of a basidiocarp or ascocarp that supports a spore-bearing surface, the hymenium. The hymenium may consist of lamellae, tubes, or teeth, on the underside of the pileus...
that is bell-shaped or conical, and 1.5 to 4 cm (0.590551181102362 to 1.6 in) broad; it is attached to the top of the stem only, the margin of the cap is free – hanging like a skirt. The underside of the cap is tan
Tan (color)
Tan is a pale whiteish, tawny shade of white. The name is derived from tannum used in the tanning of leather.The first recorded use of tan as a shade name in English was in the year 1590....
to dark brown in color. The stem
Stipe (mycology)
thumb|150px|right|Diagram of a [[basidiomycete]] stipe with an [[annulus |annulus]] and [[volva |volva]]In mycology a stipe refers to the stem or stalk-like feature supporting the cap of a mushroom. Like all tissues of the mushroom other than the hymenium, the stipe is composed of sterile hyphal...
, which measures 5 to 11 cm (2 to 4.3 in) by 1 to 1.5 cm (0.393700787401575 to 0.590551181102362 in) thick, is white and tapers upwards so that the apex is slightly thicker than the base; the stem surface is either smooth or slightly fuzzy. It is generally hollow, although young specimens may be filled with cotton-like hypha
Hypha
A hypha is a long, branching filamentous structure of a fungus, and also of unrelated Actinobacteria. In most fungi, hyphae are the main mode of vegetative growth, and are collectively called a mycelium; yeasts are unicellular fungi that do not grow as hyphae.-Structure:A hypha consists of one or...
e. The flesh
Trama (mycology)
In mycology trama is a term for the inner, fleshy portion of a mushroom's basidiocarp, or fruit body. It is distinct from the outer layer of tissue, known as the pileipellis or cuticle, and from the spore-bearing tissue layer known as the hymenium....
is thin and brittle, and the cap can be easily broken off the stem.
David Arora
David Arora
David Arora is an American mycologist, naturalist, and writer. He is the author of two popular books on mushroom identification, Mushrooms Demystified and All That the Rain Promises and More.......
notes that sometimes a variety with a wrinkled cap can be found, somewhat resembling a Gyromitra
Gyromitra
Gyromitra is a genus of ascomycete mushrooms found in the northern hemisphere. The most famous member is the controversial false morel ...
.
Microscopic features
SporeSpore
In biology, a spore is a reproductive structure that is adapted for dispersal and surviving for extended periods of time in unfavorable conditions. Spores form part of the life cycles of many bacteria, plants, algae, fungi and some protozoa. According to scientist Dr...
s are elliptical, smooth, hyaline
Hyaline
The term hyaline denotes a substance with a glass-like appearance.-Histopathology:In histopathological medical usage, a hyaline substance appears glassy and pink after being stained with haematoxylin and eosin — usually it is an acellular, proteinaceous material...
, with dimensions of 28–34 by 15–19 µm
Micrometre
A micrometer , is by definition 1×10-6 of a meter .In plain English, it means one-millionth of a meter . Its unit symbol in the International System of Units is μm...
. The asci
Ascus
An ascus is the sexual spore-bearing cell produced in ascomycete fungi. On average, asci normally contain eight ascospores, produced by a meiotic cell division followed, in most species, by a mitotic cell division. However, asci in some genera or species can number one , two, four, or multiples...
are typically 500–550 by 21–27 µm, and eight spored. The paraphyses
Paraphyses
Paraphyses are part of the fertile spore-bearing layer in certain fungi. More specifically, paraphyses are sterile filamentous hyphal end cells composing part of the hymenium of Ascomycota and Basidiomycota interspersed among either the asci or basidia respectively, and not sufficiently...
are club-shaped, branched, and septate
Septate
Septate is a morphological term used in biology in two different instances.*In human biology, it is used to describe a divided uterus.*In mycology, it is used to describe the condition of spores or hyphae in terms of having or lacking a septa to divide...
.
Distribution and habitat
This species grows singly, scattered, or in groups on the ground in both hardwoodHardwood
Hardwood is wood from angiosperm trees . It may also be used for those trees themselves: these are usually broad-leaved; in temperate and boreal latitudes they are mostly deciduous, but in tropics and subtropics mostly evergreen.Hardwood contrasts with softwood...
and coniferous forests, often in river valleys, or along stream banks. It often fruits in late spring, usually near morel
Morel
Morchella, the true morels, is a genus of edible mushrooms closely related to anatomically simpler cup fungi. These distinctive mushrooms appear honeycomb-like in that the upper portion is composed of a network of ridges with pits between them....
season. It has been reported to fruit abundantly in the chaparral
Chaparral
Chaparral is a shrubland or heathland plant community found primarily in the U.S. state of California and in the northern portion of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico...
scrubland in southern California.
Edibility
Although some authors claim the mushroom to be edible, others warn that it may cause gastrointestinal discomfort. It may be confused with the "early morel", species Verpa bohemicaVerpa bohemica
Verpa bohemica is a species of fungus in the Morchellaceae family. Commonly known as the early morel or the wrinkled thimble-cap, it is one of several species known informally as a "false morel"...
, which is not recommended for consumption.