Verpa bohemica, commonly known as wrinkled thimble-cap, early false morel, and bell morel, is a spring-fruiting fungus with a yellowish brown to brown, strongly wrinkled cap that hangs freely from the top of a long pale stem. It grows solitary, scattered, or in small groups on soil in woodland, especially under hardwoods, and appears in early spring, often around the same time as or slightly before the true morels. The cap is attached to the stem only at the apex, which is one of the most important features separating it from Morchella species.

Cap tan, yellow-brown, or brown, usually bell-shaped, conical, or somewhat irregular, with prominent longitudinal wrinkles and folds rather than the deep pits and ridges of true morels. The underside is paler, often whitish. The cap hangs completely free around the stem except where it is attached at the very top. The flesh is thin and fragile. Stem creamy white to pale yellow, long and usually more or less equal, sometimes slightly enlarged at the base. It is often finely granular or scurfy, sometimes with faint concentric bands. The interior is hollow or loosely filled with whitish, cottony fibres. Spore print cream to pale yellowish.

Microscopic Features: Spores are ellipsoid to elongated-ellipsoid, smooth, measuring 48–85 x 15–24 µm, and hyaline. The asci are typically 2-spored, which is a useful microscopic character for this species.

Note: Verpa bohemica has also been placed in the genus Ptychoverpa, and the name Ptychoverpa bohemica is still encountered as a synonym. Although it is closely related to the true morels, it is not a true morel. Older specimens can sometimes look deceptively pitted, which is one reason it is frequently misidentified in the field.

Verpa bohemica on the MushroomExpert.Com web site.