Scientists identify new tropical morel mushroom species in Indonesia

A team of 20 researchers identified a new species of morel mushroom, named Morchella rinjaniensis, on the slopes of Mount Rinjani in Lombok, Indonesia.

This discovery marks the first time a tropical morel species has received a full scientific description and official name. While local communities have long used the mountain fungus as a food source, the research team confirmed its unique status through morphological and molecular data.

The researchers gathered specimens in March and June 2023 and July 2024 to distinguish the fungus from other known varieties. The mushroom features a cone or oval top with a honeycomb surface and spore-producing structures that reach heights of 1.9 to 19 centimeters. While most morel mushrooms grow in temperate regions like Turkey, Japan, and Chile during the spring, this species thrives in the cold, humid tropical mountains of Indonesia.

The fungus grows in diverse environments, including riverbanks, hiking trails, and areas affected by pine logging. It survives in a mountain climate where average temperatures range from 1 to 11 degrees Celsius. Phylogenetic analysis showed that while the fungus is related to Morchella galilaea, it remains distinct from all previously described morel species.