Yellow Morel
VU

Yellow Morel

Morchella esculenta

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morchella_esculenta

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Yellow Morel populations face severe pressure from commercial over-harvesting, as these prized edible fungi command high market prices that drive intensive collection from wild populations. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the specific temperature and moisture conditions required for fruiting, while habitat degradation from logging and development reduces available woodland ecosystems. The species' complex ecological relationships with host trees make it particularly vulnerable to forest management practices that disrupt mycorrhizal networks.

Threat summary

Habitat

Yellow Morels inhabit deciduous and mixed woodlands, particularly favoring areas with rich, well-drained soils near elm, ash, tulip poplar, and other hardwood trees. They form complex mycorrhizal associations with tree roots and typically fruit in spring following specific temperature and moisture cycles.

TERRESTRIAL· major

Other threatened species in Morchellaceae

EN

Fischerula macrospora

Unknown
Semifree MorelVU

Semifree Morel

Morchella semilibera

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Yellow Morel classified as Vulnerable?
Yellow Morel is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. Yellow Morel populations face severe pressure from commercial over-harvesting, as these prized edible fungi command high market prices that drive intensive collection from wild populations. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the specific temperature and moisture conditions required for fruiting, while habitat degradation from logging and development reduces available woodland ecosystems. The species' complex ecological relationships with host trees make it particularly vulnerable to forest management practices that disrupt mycorrhizal networks.
Where does Yellow Morel live?
Yellow Morel occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Yellow Morel?
The main threats to Yellow Morel are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

Get weekly conservation intelligence

One short digest a week of the most striking species and country data we ship, plus breaking conservation news paired with our database where it matters.

Free, no spam. One-click unsubscribe in every email.