''Terfezia'' (

Berber Berber or Berbers may refer to: Ethnic group * Berbers, an ethnic group native to Northern Africa * Berber languages, a family of Afro-Asiatic languages Places * Berber, Sudan, a town on the Nile People with the surname * Ady Berber (1913–196 ...

: Tirfas) is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

truffle A truffle is the Sporocarp (fungi), fruiting body of a subterranean ascomycete fungus, one of the species of the genus ''Tuber (fungus), Tuber''. More than one hundred other genera of fungi are classified as truffles including ''Geopora'', ''P ...

-like

fungi A fungus (: fungi , , , or ; or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and mold (fungus), molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as one ...

within the

Pezizaceae The Pezizaceae (commonly referred to as cup fungi) are a family of fungi in the Ascomycota which produce mushrooms that tend to grow in the shape of a "cup". Spores are formed on the inner surface of the fruit body ( ascoma). The cup shape typi ...

family. ''Terfezia'' species are commonly known as desert truffles. Some authorities consider this the

type genus In biological taxonomy, the type genus (''genus typica'') is the genus which defines a biological family and the root of the family name. Zoological nomenclature According to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, "The name-bearin ...

of the family

Terfeziaceae The Terfeziaceae, or desert truffles, is a family of truffles (, , , ) 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'' ...

, although

phylogenetic In biology, phylogenetics () is the study of the evolutionary history of life using observable characteristics of organisms (or genes), which is known as phylogenetic inference. It infers the relationship among organisms based on empirical dat ...

analysis suggests that it nests within the

. The ''Dictionary of the Fungi'' (10th edition, 2008) suggests that the genus contains 12 species. A recent (2011) publication used

molecular A molecule is a group of two or more atoms that are held together by attractive forces known as chemical bonds; depending on context, the term may or may not include ions that satisfy this criterion. In quantum physics, organic chemistry, ...

analysis to show that the American ''Terfezia'' species had been incorrectly

classified Classified may refer to: General *Classified information, material that a government body deems to be sensitive *Classified advertising or "classifieds" Music *Classified (rapper) (born 1977), Canadian rapper * The Classified, a 1980s American ro ...

, and moved ''Terfezia spinosa'' and ''Terfezia longii'' to ''

Mattirolomyces ''Mattirolomyces'' is a genus of fungi within the Pezizaceae The Pezizaceae (commonly referred to as cup fungi) are a family of fungi in the Ascomycota which produce mushrooms that tend to grow in the shape of a "cup". Spores are formed on ...

'' and '' Stouffera'', respectively; as a result, no ''Terfezia'' species are known to exist in North America. Israeli agricultural scientists have been attempting to domesticate ''T. boudieri'' into a commercial crop. Terfezia boudieri’s host plant, Helianthemum sessiliflorum, has slim, dark leaves and twigs bearing small yellow flowers.

Species

Index Fungorum ''Index Fungorum'' is an international project to index all formal names (scientific names) in the fungus kingdom. As of 2015, the project is based at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, one of three partners along with Landcare Research and th ...

accepts 34 species in ''Terfezia'': *''

Terfezia albida ''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, although phylog ...

'' *''

Terfezia alsheikhii ''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, although phylog ...

'' *''

Terfezia aphroditis ''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, although phylog ...

'' *''

Terfezia arenaria ''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, although phylog ...

'' *''

Terfezia berberiodora ''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, although phylog ...

'' *''

Terfezia boudieri ''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, although phylog ...

'' *''

Terfezia cadevalli ''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, although phylog ...

'' *''

Terfezia canariensis ''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, although phylog ...

'' *''

Terfezia castanea ''Terfezia'' (Berber language, Berber: Tirfas) is a genus of truffle-like fungi within the Pezizaceae family. ''Terfezia'' species are common name, commonly known as desert truffles. Some authorities consider this the type (biology), type genus o ...

'' *'' Terfezia claveryi'' *'' Terfezia decaryi'' *'' Terfezia deflersii'' *'' Terfezia eliocrocae'' *'' Terfezia eremita'' *'' Terfezia extremadurensis'' *'' Terfezia fanfani'' *'' Terfezia hafizi'' *'' Terfezia hanotauxii'' *'' Terfezia hispanica'' *'' Terfezia indica'' *'' Terfezia leptoderma'' *'' Terfezia lutescens'' *'' Terfezia magnusii'' *'' Terfezia mellerionis'' *'' Terfezia metaxasi'' *'' Terfezia olbiensis'' *'' Terfezia ovalispora'' *'' Terfezia pallida'' *''

Terfezia pini ''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, although phylogene ...

'' *'' Terfezia pseudoleptoderma'' *'' Terfezia rosea'' *'' Terfezia schweinfurthii'' *'' Terfezia sinuosa'' *'' Terfezia transcaucasica'' *'' Terfezia zeynebiae''

References

Pezizaceae Pezizales genera {{Pezizomycetes-stub