| Terfeziaceae | |
|---|---|
| |
| Desert truffle (Terfezia spp.) from Avanos, Turkey | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Division: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | Terfeziaceae
|
| Genera | |
|
Terfezia | |
The Terfeziaceae, or desert truffles, is a family of truffles (Berber languages: Tirfas, Arabic: كمأ, romanized: Kam', Kurdish: دۆمبەڵان, romanized: Dombelan, Hebrew: כמהת הנגב, romanized: kmehat hanegev) endemic to arid and semi-arid areas of the Mediterranean Region, North Africa, and the Middle East, where they live in ectomycorrhizal association with Helianthemum species and other ectomycorrhizal plants (including Cistus, oaks, and pines). This group consists of three genera: Terfezia, Tirmania, and Mattirolomyces. They are a few centimetres across and weigh from 30 to 300 grams (1–10 oz). Desert truffles are often used as a culinary ingredient.