# Kalaharituber

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{{Short description|Single-species genus of fungi}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Kalaharitrueffel.jpg
| image_caption =
| genus = Kalaharituber
| parent_authority = [Trappe](/source/James_Trappe) & Kagan-Zur (2005)
| species = pfeilii
| authority = ([Henn.](/source/Henn.)) [Trappe](/source/James_Trappe) & Kagan-Zur (2005)
| synonyms_ref = 
| synonyms = *''Terfezia pfeilii'' <small>Henn. (1895)</small>
}}

'''''Kalaharituber''''' is a fungal [genus](/source/genus) in the family [Pezizaceae](/source/Pezizaceae). It is a [monotypic](/source/monotypic) genus, whose single [truffle](/source/truffle)-like species, '''''Kalaharituber pfeilii''''', is found in the [Kalahari Desert](/source/Kalahari_Desert) and other arid regions of [Southern Africa](/source/Southern_Africa).

==Taxonomy==
The fungus was first [described](/source/species_description) scientifically in 1895 by German mycologist [Paul Christoph Hennings](/source/Paul_Christoph_Hennings) as ''Terfezia pfeilii'', after German explorer [Joachim von Pfeil](/source/Joachim_von_Pfeil), who brought Hennings the [type](/source/Type_(biology)) specimen.<ref name="Hennings 1895" /> The species was moved to its own genus in 2005 by [James Trappe](/source/James_Trappe) and Varda Kagan-Zur at [Ben-Gurion University](/source/Ben-Gurion_University).<ref name="Ferdman 2005"/> It is in the family [Pezizaceae](/source/Pezizaceae).<ref name="OoA" />

== Description ==
Fruiting bodies can be up to {{Convert|12|cm|frac=4}} in diameter. These weigh approximately {{Convert|200|g|sigfig=1}}, although larger rains (which affect weight) can cause them to weigh twice as much.<ref name=":0" /> These fruits grow close to the surface, which causes surface cracks on the ground above<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://genome.jgi.doe.gov/Kalpfe1/Kalpfe1.home.html|title=Home - Kalaharituber pfeilii F3 v1.0|website=genome.jgi.doe.gov|access-date=2017-01-29}}</ref><ref name=":3" /> after rains. These fruiting bodies can occur as much as 40&nbsp;cm away from the main [hypha](/source/hypha)e.<ref name=":3" />

The [asci](/source/Ascus) are spherical to ellipsoid, 70–100 by 50–80&nbsp;[μm](/source/%CE%BCm), each containing 5–8 spherical [spores](/source/Ascospore), which are up to 16–25&nbsp;[μm](/source/%CE%BCm), [hyaline](/source/hyaline) and later tannish. A double-layered 1.5-μm-thick [cell wall](/source/cell_wall) turns yellowish under [Melzer's reagent](/source/Melzer's_reagent).<ref name="Hennings 1895" /><ref name="Ferdman 2005" />

== Distribution and habitat ==
''Kalaharituber pfeilii'' is found the is found in the [Kalahari Desert](/source/Kalahari_Desert), which spans the larger part of [Botswana](/source/Botswana), the east of [Namibia](/source/Namibia) and the Northern Cape Province of [South Africa](/source/South_Africa).<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://iucn.ekoo.se/iucn/species_view/369302|title=Kalaharituber pfeilii|last=Initiative|first=The Global Fungal Red List|website=iucn.ekoo.se|language=en|access-date=2017-03-26}}</ref> It is also found in other arid regions of Southern Africa, such as [Angola](/source/Angola). It is found in [soils with a pH](/source/Soil_pH) ranging from 5.5 to 6.5, with a sand content varying from 94–97%, a clay content varying from 2–5% and a silt content varying from 1–4%.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=http://www.fungimag.com/Truffle-Issue-08-articles/desert-truffles.pdf|title=Desert Truffles|work=FUNGI Magazine}}</ref>

== Ecology ==
''Kalaharituber pfeilii'' is known to form an [ectomycorrhiza](/source/ectomycorrhiza)l relationship with ''Citrillus lanatus'' ([watermelon](/source/watermelon)), and is suspected to have a number of other possible relationships with other plant species. These include ''[Sorghum bicolor](/source/Sorghum_bicolor)'', ''[Eragrostis](/source/Eragrostis)'' spp., ''[Grewia flava](/source/Grewia_flava)'',<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> several species of [acacia](/source/acacia),<ref name=":3" /> and ''[Cynodon dactylon](/source/Cynodon_dactylon)''.<ref name=":1" />

It is eaten by [meerkat](/source/meerkat)s, hyenas, baboons and bat-eared foxes.<ref name=":0" /> 

== Conservation ==
The current populations of ''K. pfeilii'' are thought to be in deterioration, with possible causes advanced being [over-harvesting](/source/Over_harvesting), [climate change](/source/climate_change) or the land practices used in ''K.&nbsp;pfeilii'' habitats.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

== Uses ==
''Kalaharituber pfeilii'' is eaten by humans.<ref name=":0" /> According to a case study by the [Australian National Botanic Gardens](/source/Australian_National_Botanic_Gardens), the fruiting body is eaten by the [Khoisan](/source/Khoisan) and other indigenous peoples of the Kalahari. Some commercial use of the species occurs.<ref name=":0" />

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=

<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.anbg.gov.au/fungi/case-studies/desert-truffles-aust.html|title=Desert truffles - Australia and the Kalahari|last=|first=|date=|website=www.anbg.gov.au|publisher=Australian National Botanical Gardens|language=en|access-date=2017-01-27}}</ref>

<ref name="Ferdman 2005">{{cite journal |author1=Ferdman, Y. |author2=Aviram, S. |author3=Roth-Bejerano, N. |author4=Trappe, J.M. |author5=Kagan-Zur, V. |year=2005 |title=Phylogenetic studies of ''Terfezia pfeilii'' and ''Choiromyces echinulatus'' (Pezizales) support new genera for southern African truffles: ''Kalaharituber'' and ''Eremiomyces'' |journal=Mycological Research |volume=109 |issue=2 |pages=237–245 |doi=10.1017/S0953756204001789|pmid=15839107 }}</ref>

<ref name="Hennings 1895">{{cite journal |author=Hennings, P. |year=1895 |title=Fungi camerunenses I |journal=Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie |volume=22 |pages=72–111}}</ref>

<ref name="OoA">{{cite journal|last=Lumbsch TH, Huhndorf SM. |date=December 2007 |title=Outline of Ascomycota &ndash; 2007 |journal=Myconet |volume=13 |pages=1&ndash;58 |url=http://archive.fieldmuseum.org/myconet/outline.asp |publisher=The Field Museum, Department of Botany |location=Chicago, USA |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090318003134/http://www.fieldmuseum.org/myconet/outline.asp |archivedate=2009-03-18 }}</ref>

}}{{Taxonbar|from=Q6350157|from2=Q17481264|from3=Q59537209}}

Category:Fungi of Africa
Category:Pezizaceae
Category:Monotypic fungus genera
Category:Taxa named by James Trappe
Category:Pezizales genera
Category:Edible fungi

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kalaharituber](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalaharituber) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalaharituber?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.