Morchella galilaea is a species of morel fungus in the family Morchellaceae. It was described in 2012 from specimens collected under ash trees in Israel. Unlike most morels which fruit in spring, this species uniquely produces its honey-combed fruiting bodies during autumn (October to December), often in association with olive or pine trees. It is characterized by its cap of pits and ridges that range from silvery grey when young to olive-brown or yellow-brown at maturity, with ridges that start white and become light yellowish with age. Originally found in Israel and Turkey, molecular studies have confirmed its presence across a broad global distribution including parts of Asia, Europe, Africa, Hawaii, and New Zealand.
Morchella galilaea was described as a new species in 2012. The type collection was made under Fraxinus syriaca plants in Israel. Although first recognised phylogenetically under the informal code "MesâÂÂ16", evaluation of Turkish materialâÂÂincluding macroâ and micromorphological study and multiâÂÂlocus phylogenetic analysesâÂÂdemonstrated its identity with the Israeli collections. Specimens examined from Adana Province, Turkey, were collected between October and December 2009âÂÂ2012 and deposited in the ANK and Kon herbaria. Molecular data from these specimens cluster reliably with sequences of M. galilaea from Israel and other regions, confirming its distinction among true morels.
The fruiting body (ascoma) of M. galilaea stands 53âÂÂ78 mm tall and bears a honeyâÂÂcomb cap (hymenophore) 36âÂÂ45 mm high by 12.5âÂÂ17.5 mm wide. The cap comprises a network of pits and ridges: two ridge types occur, narrow polygonal ridges and longer elliptical ridges measuring 5.2âÂÂ9.8 mm across and 14.5âÂÂ24.7 mm tall. Young ridges are blunt and white, becoming flattened and light yellowish with age, while the pits range from silvery grey when young to oliveâÂÂbrown or yellowâÂÂbrown at maturity. The stipe is 17âÂÂ33 mm long and 5âÂÂ8.2 mm wide, cylindrical with a slightly thickened base, glabrous and white in youth, turning pale yellowish white in maturity. The internal flesh (context) is whitish and very thin within the hollow cap. Under the microscope, ascospores are ellipsoid, smooth to finely wrinkled under scanning electron microscopy, measuring 12.5âÂÂ19.5 by 7.5âÂÂ10 üm, borne in eightâÂÂspored, cylindrical asci (165âÂÂ220 by 15âÂÂ22 üm). Paraphyses lining the fertile surface are cylindrical to clubâÂÂshaped, 100âÂÂ130 by 6âÂÂ11 üm, hyaline or containing brownish contents.
In Turkey, M. galilaea has been found fruiting solitary or scattered on volcanic tuff substrates in misted cutting propagation beds at ÃÂukurova University, during October to December. Analysis of the tuff shows a loamy texture with normal calcium carbonate levels, slightly alkaline pH and elevated micronutrients such as copper and iron, suggesting the fungus thrives saphrotrophically on this mineral medium rather than forming a mycorrhizal relationship. Beyond Turkey and Israel, multilocus studies indicate that M. galilaea occurs in China, India, Java, Hawaii, New Zealand and parts of Africa, although fruiting seasons and tree associations vary by region. Unlike most morels, which are characterized by spring season fruiting, M. galilaea fruits in autumn (between October and December). In the Mediterranean region it is often associated with olive trees (e.g. Gozo, Malta) or pine trees. Molecular studies have shown that the fungus is found in China, Java, Hawaii, Israel, New Zealand, India, Croatia, Italy, Sicily, Gozo (Maltese Islands), Majorca (Spain), Réunion (France), Turkey, and three countries in Africa.