Terfezia

Terfezia
Terfezia spp.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Fungi
Division:
Ascomycota
Class:
Pezizomycetes
Order:
Pezizales
Family:
Terfeziaceae or
Pezizaceae
Genus:
Terfezia

(Tul. & C.Tul.) Tul. & C.Tul. (1851)
Type species
Terfezia arenaria
(Moris) Trappe (1971)
Species

34, see text

Synonyms[1]
  • Choiromyces sect. Terfezia Tul. & C.Tul. (1845)
  • Tulasneinia Zobel (1854)

Terfezia (Berber: Tirfas) is a genus of truffle-like fungi within the Pezizaceae family. Terfezia species are commonly known as desert truffles. Some authorities consider this the type genus of the family Terfeziaceae,[1] although phylogenetic analysis suggests that it nests within the Pezizaceae.[2] The Dictionary of the Fungi (10th edition, 2008) suggests that the genus contains 12 species.[2] A recent (2011) publication used molecular analysis to show that the American Terfezia species had been incorrectly classified, and moved Terfezia spinosa and Terfezia longii to Mattirolomyces and Stouffera, respectively; as a result, no Terfezia species are known to exist in North America.[3]

Israeli agricultural scientists have been attempting to domesticate T. boudieri into a commercial crop.[4]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference urlFungorum synonymy: Terfezia was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Kirk 2008 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Kovacs 2011b was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Nargi, Lela (2019-07-01). "As Israel's Desert Truffles Become Scarce, a Researcher Works to Grow Them as Crops". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 2020-04-20.