Terfezia

Elegant desert truffle ( Terfezia arenaria )

The desert truffles ( Terfezia ) constitute a genus in the family of the cup Ling relatives.

Features

The desert truffles are underground ( hypgäische ) fungi mycorrhizal with Zistrosengewächsen, especially with Rockrose, enter and are therefore always to be found in the immediate vicinity. They are similar to the real truffles bulbous fruit bodies. Terfezia species have inamyloide asci and spores rough, unlike the sister genus Tirmania with smooth spores and amyloid asci.

Dissemination

Desert truffles are mainly found in semi-arid and arid areas of the Kalahari, South Africa, Spain, Iraq and Saudi Arabia to Hungary, the Balkans and China. Egon Horak describes a Terfezia species from the Alps with the Alpine Rock-rose as mycorrhizal partners.

In many areas, such as Saudi Arabia, North Africa and southern Spain, they are highly valued as edible mushrooms.

System

Terfezia stood a long time together with Pachyphloeus and Cazia in a separate family ( Terfeziaeceae ). However, it turned out that they form a monophyletic clade within the Pezizaceae. Also Tirmania is closely related to Terfezia and also belongs therefore to the Pezizaceae.

Terfezia forms a well-secured monophyletic unit. The genus includes 12 species, of which 7 species occur in Europe or are not expected for: