First record of Morchella esculenta (L.) Pers. from Ras Al-Turab, Green Mountain, Northeastern Libya

This study presents the first confirmed documentation of the presence of Morchella esculenta in Libya, specifically in the Ras Al-Turab area of the Green Mountain. A specimen collected from a grassy habitat was subjected to microscopic and macroscopic analyses. Morphological characteristics, such as the esculenta l cap shape and honeycomb-like pits, in addition to microscopic features like ellipsoid ascospores and cylindrical asci, matched the published description of M. esculenta. Due to limited access to molecular tools, identification was based solely on morphology. Samples were deposited in the Fungarium of Suez Canal University under accession number SCUF 00000289. This discovery expands the known geographical range of Morchella species in North Africa and highlights the region's underexplored fungal diversity. It also indicates the potential for ecological and economic research on this valuable edible and medicinal fungus.