identifier: METPO:1007062
label: colony morphology
definition: A phenotype characterized by macroscopic colony characteristics such as
  shape, margin, elevation, surface, colour, and size.
trait_category: OTHER
term_kind: CLASS
mapping_status: SEEDED
parent_traits:
- METPO:1000059
created_by: Marcin Joachimiak
curation_history:
- timestamp: '2026-09-11T11:12:54Z'
  curator: seed_from_metpo
  action: SEEDED_FROM_METPO
  changes: imported from data/raw/metpo.owl (CLASS)
- timestamp: '2026-09-11T11:15:17Z'
  curator: codex
  action: ENRICHED_FROM_LITERATURE
  changes: Enriched the seeded METPO colony morphology phenotype with stable ASM protocol
    evidence after a repository-wide duplicate review covering ignored and hidden
    files.
  llm_assisted: true
definition_source: https://asm.org/asm/media/protocol-images/colony-morphology-protocol.pdf
evidence:
- reference: https://asm.org/asm/media/protocol-images/colony-morphology-protocol.pdf
  snippet: If well separated from other colonies, a colony will have a characteristic
    shape (both in elevation and margin), size, color, and consistency.
  notes: Breakwell et al. describe shape, elevation, margin, size, color, and consistency
    as characteristic macroscopic features of a well-separated colony on solid medium.
- reference: https://asm.org/asm/media/protocol-images/colony-morphology-protocol.pdf
  snippet: Describe the form, elevation, and margin as indicated in Fig. 1. Also indicate
    whether the colonies are smooth (shiny glistening surface), rough (dull, bumpy,
    granular, or matte surface), or mucoid (slimy or gummy appearance).
  notes: The peer-reviewed ASM protocol explicitly treats colony form, elevation,
    margin, and surface texture as morphology descriptors.