''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 ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

truffle A truffle is the fruiting body of a subterranean ascomycete fungus, predominantly one of the many species of the genus ''Tuber''. In addition to ''Tuber'', many other genera of fungi are classified as truffles including ''Geopora'', ''Peziz ...

-like

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

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 (mushroom). The cup shape typ ...

family. ''Terfezia'' species are commonly known as desert truffles. Some authorities consider this the type genus of the family Terfeziaceae, although

phylogenetic In biology, phylogenetics (; from Greek φυλή/ φῦλον [] "tribe, clan, race", and wikt:γενετικός, γενετικός [] "origin, source, birth") is the study of the evolutionary history and relationships among or within groups o ...

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 held together by attractive forces known as chemical bonds; depending on context, the term may or may not include ions which satisfy this criterion. In quantum physics, organic chemistry, and bioche ...

analysis to show that the American ''Terfezia'' species had been incorrectly classified, and moved ''Terfezia spinosa'' and ''Terfezia longii'' to ''

Mattirolomyces The Terfeziaceae, or desert truffles, is a family of truffles ( ber, script=latn, Tirfas, ar, كمأ, Kam', ckb, دنبلان, Domalan, he, כמהת הנגב, kmehat hanegev) endemic to arid and semi-arid areas of the Mediterranean Region, N ...

'' 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.

Species

, Index Fungorum accepts 34 species in ''Terfezia'': *'' Terfezia albida'' *'' Terfezia alsheikhii'' *'' Terfezia aphroditis'' *'' Terfezia arenaria'' *'' Terfezia berberiodora'' *'' Terfezia boudieri'' *'' Terfezia cadevalli'' *'' Terfezia canariensis'' *'' Terfezia castanea'' *''

Terfezia claveryi ''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 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'' (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 metaxasi'' *'' Terfezia olbiensis'' *'' Terfezia ovalispora'' *'' Terfezia pallida'' *'' Terfezia pini'' *''

Terfezia pseudoleptoderma ''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 rosea'' *'' Terfezia schweinfurthii'' *'' Terfezia sinuosa'' *''

Terfezia transcaucasica ''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 zeynebiae''

References

Pezizaceae Pezizales genera {{Pezizomycetes-stub