# Terfeziaceae > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Terfeziaceae > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Terfeziaceae.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terfeziaceae > Source revision: 1354659895 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Family of fungi Terfeziaceae Desert truffle (Terfezia spp.) from Avanos, Turkey Scientific classification Kingdom: Fungi Division: Ascomycota Class: Pezizomycetes Order: Pezizales Family: Terfeziaceae Dumort. 1829[1] Genera (see text) Desert truffle, from [Yamchi](/source/Yamchi), [Iran](/source/Iran) The **Terfeziaceae**, or **desert truffles**, is a family of [truffles](/source/Truffle) ([Berber languages](/source/Berber_languages): *Tirfas*, [Arabic](/source/Arabic_language): كمأ, [romanized](/source/Romanization_of_Arabic): *Kam'*, [Turkish](/source/Turkish_language): *Dolaman*, [Kurdish](/source/Kurdish_language): دۆمبەڵان, [romanized](/source/Romanization_of_Kurdish): *Dombelan*, [Hebrew](/source/Hebrew_language): כמהת הנגב, [romanized](/source/Romanization_of_Hebrew): *kmehat hanegev*). The group consists of three genera: *[Terfezia](/source/Terfezia)*, *Tirmania*, and *Mattirolomyces*. They are a few centimetres across and weigh from 30 to 300 grams (1–10 oz). The family is endemic to arid and semi-arid areas of the [Mediterranean Region](/source/Mediterranean_Region), [North Africa](/source/North_Africa), and the [Middle East](/source/Middle_East), where its members live in [ectomycorrhizal](/source/Ectomycorrhiza) association with *[Helianthemum](/source/Helianthemum)* species and other ectomycorrhizal plants (including *[Cistus](/source/Cistus)*, oaks, and pines). Desert truffles are often used as a culinary ingredient. ## Description Fruit-bodies ([ascomata](/source/Ascomata)) are large, more or less spherical to turbinate ([top](/source/Spinning_top)-shaped), thick-walled, and solid. The [asci](/source/Ascus) are formed in marbled veins interspersed with sterile tissue. The asci are cylindrical to spherical, indehiscent (not splitting open at maturity), and sometimes stain blue in iodine. Ascospores are [hyaline](/source/Hyaline) to pale brown, spherical, and [uninucleate](/source/Uninucleate).[2] ## Genera According to [BioLib](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=BioLib&action=edit&redlink=1), Terfeziaceae contains the following [genera](/source/Genera):[1] - *[Adelphella](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Adelphella&action=edit&redlink=1)* Pfister, Matocec & I. Kušan - *[Amylascus](/source/Amylascus)* Trappe - *[Boudiera](/source/Boudiera)* Cooke - *[Calongea](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Calongea&action=edit&redlink=1)* Healy, Bonito & Trappe - *[Cazia](/source/Cazia)* Trappe - *[Chromelosporium](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chromelosporium&action=edit&redlink=1)* Corda - *[Cleistoiodophanus](/source/Cleistoiodophanus)* J.L. Bezerra & Kimbr. - *[Daleomyces](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Daleomyces&action=edit&redlink=1)* Setch. - *[Eremiomyces](/source/Eremiomyces)* Trappe & Kagan-Zur - *[Galactinia](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Galactinia&action=edit&redlink=1)* (Cooke) Boud. - *[Glischroderma](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Glischroderma&action=edit&redlink=1)* Fuckel - *[Hapsidomyces](/source/Hapsidomyces)* J.C. Krug & Jeng - *[Hydnobolites](/source/Hydnobolites)* Tul. & C. Tul. - *[Hydnotryopsis](/source/Hydnotryopsis)* Gilkey - *[Iodophanus](/source/Iodophanus)* Korf - *[Iodowynnea](/source/Iodowynnea)* Medel, Guzmán & S. Chacón - *[Kalaharituber](/source/Kalaharituber)* Trappe & Kagan-Zur - *[Kimbropezia](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kimbropezia&action=edit&redlink=1)* Korf & W.Y. Zhuang - *[Malvipezia](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Malvipezia&action=edit&redlink=1)* Van Vooren - *[Marcelleina](/source/Marcelleina)* Brumm., Korf & Rifai - *[Mattirolomyces](/source/Mattirolomyces)* E. Fisch. - *[Muciturbo](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Muciturbo&action=edit&redlink=1)* P.H.B. Talbot - *[Mycoclelandia](/source/Mycoclelandia)* Trappe & G.W. Beaton - *[Ostracoderma](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ostracoderma&action=edit&redlink=1)* Fr. - *[Pachyella](/source/Pachyella)* Boud. - *[Pachyphloeus](/source/Pachyphloeus)* Tul. & C. Tul. - *[Peziza](/source/Peziza)* Dill. ex Fr. - *[Plicaria](/source/Plicaria)* Fuckel - *[Plicariella](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Plicariella&action=edit&redlink=1)* (Sacc.) Rehm - *[Rhodopeziza](/source/Rhodopeziza)* Hohmeyer & J. Moravec - *[Ruhlandiella](/source/Ruhlandiella)* Henn. - *[Sarcosphaera](/source/Sarcosphaera)* Auersw. - *[Sphaerozone](/source/Sphaerozone)* Zobel - *[Stouffera](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stouffera&action=edit&redlink=1)* Kovács, Trappe - *[Svrcekia](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Svrcekia&action=edit&redlink=1)* Kubička - *[Temperantia](/source/Temperantia)* K. Hansen, Healy & Kovács - *[Terfezia](/source/Terfezia)* (Tul. & C. Tul.) Tul. & C. Tul. - *[Tirmania](/source/Tirmania)* Chatin - *[Ulurua](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ulurua&action=edit&redlink=1)* Trappe, Claridge & Kovács ## Distribution and habitat Desert truffles have been found in arid and semi-arid zones of the [Kalahari Desert](/source/Kalahari_Desert), the [Mediterranean basin](/source/Mediterranean_basin), [Syria](/source/Syria), [Azerbaijan](/source/Azerbaijan), [Iran](/source/Iran), [Iraq](/source/Iraq), [Kuwait](/source/Kuwait), the [Negev desert](/source/Negev_desert) in [Israel](/source/Israel), the [Sahara](/source/Sahara), [Saudi Arabia](/source/Saudi_Arabia), [Qatar](/source/Qatar), [Libya](/source/Libya), [Spain](/source/Spain), [Greece](/source/Greece), [Cyprus](/source/Cyprus), [Hungary](/source/Hungary), [Croatia](/source/Croatia), and [China](/source/China).[3][4] As the name suggests, they predominantly grow in the desert. They can be formed near Sunrose (Helianthemum) plants, but they are very rare to find and cannot be cultivated (justifying their cost). ## Uses Desert truffles do not have the same flavor as European truffles, but tend to be more common and thus more affordable. Forest truffles (genus *[Tuber](/source/Tuber_(fungus))*) typically cost $1,000 per [kilogram](/source/Kilogram); Italian truffles may sell for up to $2,200 per kg, while *Terfezia* truffles sold as of 2002 in [Riyadh](/source/Riyadh) for $200 to $305 a kg, and in recent years have reached, but not yet exceeded, $570.[5] Israeli agricultural scientists have been attempting to domesticate *Terfezia boudieri* into a commercial crop.[6] ## Names This section needs more citations. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Desert truffles go by several different names. In Iran and Azerbaijan they are called *Donbalan* or *Dombal*. In [Turkish](/source/Turkish_language) they are called *Domalan* in Turkiye, also *Keme* on the Syrian-Turkiye border. In [Algeria](/source/Algeria) and [Tunisia](/source/Tunisia) they are called *terfez*; the [Bedouin](/source/Bedouin) of the [Western Desert](/source/Libyan_Desert) call them *terfas ترفاس*. The [Kuwaitis](/source/Kuwaitis) call them *fagga* فقع, the [Saudis](/source/Saudis) *faq'h* فقع, and in [Syria](/source/Syria), and in [Libya](/source/Libya) *terfase* ترفاس; they are known by their classical Arabic name, *kamaa* كمأ*.* [Iraqis](/source/Iraqis) call them *kamaa**,* *kima* or *chima* كمأ*,* depending on local dialects and in [Oman](/source/Oman) they are *faqah* فقع. The [Hebrew](/source/Hebrew_language) word is *kmehin* כמהין (*kmeha* in singular). In Catalonia they are known as *tòfones d'arenal* and *turmes*. In southern Spain, they are known as *turmas* or *criadillas* and in the Canary Islands they are known as *papas crias*. In Botswana they are called *mahupu*. In [Hungary](/source/Hungary) they are known as *homoki szarvasgomba* ('sand truffles') and are sold to English-speaking nations as *honey truffles*.[7][*[additional citation(s) needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] In Saudi Arabia, there are two varieties; *khalasi* are oval with a black skin and a pinkish-ivory interior, and *zubaidi* have a cream colour but are generally more expensive.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] In oceanic countries, there is some confusion regarding the desert truffle, as the [yam](/source/Yam_(vegetable)) is often referred to as the *common desert truffle* as well.[8] ## References Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Terfeziaceae](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Terfeziaceae). 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-BioLib-Terfeziaceae_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-BioLib-Terfeziaceae_1-1) ["Terfeziaceae"](https://www.biolib.cz/en/taxon/id59686/). *BioLib*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20250112045936/https://www.biolib.cz/en/taxon/id59686/) from the original on 12 January 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Cannon, P.F., Kirk, P.M. (2007). *Fungal Families of the World*. p. 347. Singapore: CABI Publishing. 456 pp. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-isbn0-306-46632-5_3-0)** Kagan-Zur V. Terfezias, a family of mycorrhizal edible mushrooms for arid zones. In: Schlissel, Arnold; Pasternak, D. (2001). *Combating desertification with plants*. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-306-46632-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-306-46632-8). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Loizides, Michael; Hobart, Caroline; Konstandinides, George; Yiangou, Yiangos (January 2012). ["Desert Truffles: the mysterious jewels of antiquity"](https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1468164111000508). *Field Mycology*. **13** (1): 17–21. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1016/j.fldmyc.2011.12.004](https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.fldmyc.2011.12.004). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-J._Feeney_5-0)** Feeney, J: *Desert Truffles Galore*, page 22–27. Saudi Aramco World, 2002. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Nargi, Lela (2019-07-01). ["As Israel's Desert Truffles Become Scarce, a Researcher Works to Grow Them as Crops"](http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/desert-truffles). *Atlas Obscura*. Retrieved 2020-04-20. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["The Hungarian Sweet Truffle"](http://www.trufamania.com/Mattirolomyces-truffles.htm). *Trufamania*. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Tedder, M. M. Yams, a description of their cultivation on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands.(Noumea: South Pacific Commission, 1974) pp. xi - Dıéz J, Manjón JL, Martin F. (2002) [Molecular phylogeny of the mycorrhizal desert truffles (*Terfezia* and *Tirmania*), host specificity and edaphic tolerance.](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15572536.2003.11833230) Mycologia 94(2): 247–259. Taxon identifiers Terfeziaceae Wikidata: Q2932328 EPPO: 1TRFZF GBIF: 3304134 iNaturalist: 485392 IndexFungorum: 81454 IRMNG: 110058 ITIS: 13998 MycoBank: 81454 NZOR: 936b2a4d-e3d8-46df-b960-db1532979c6d SpeciesFungorum: 81454 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Terfeziaceae](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terfeziaceae) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terfeziaceae?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.