Morchella tridentina, M. rufobrunnea, and M. kakiicolor: a study of three poorly known Mediterranean morels, with nomenclatural updates in section Distantes

A taxonomic, morphological, ecological, and molecular study of three interesting Morchella species, Morchella tridentina, M. rufobrunnea, and M. kakiicolor, is presented, based on observations and analyses of collections from Cyprus and Spain. The nomenclatural and taxonomic problems associated with the name M. tridentina and its synonyms, M. elatoides and M. frustrata, are discussed. A neotype is designated for M. quercus-ilicis to replace the lost holotype, and its synonymy with M. tridentina is proposed. The holotype of M. quercus-ilicis f. kakiicolor is confirmed as genetically distinct from the neotype of M. quercus-ilicis, and a new combination, M. kakiicolor (Clowez & L. Romero) comb. nov. is introduced. The presence of M. rufobrunnea in Europe is confirmed with molecular data for the first time. Updated descriptions of all three species, including new morphological and ecological data, as well as detailed illustrations are provided.