Terfeziaceae

Terfeziaceae
Desert truffle (Terfezia spp.) from Avanos, Turkey
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Ascomycota
Subphylum:	Pezizomycotina
Class:	Pezizomycetes
Order:	Pezizales
Family:	Terfeziaceae
Genera
Terfezia Tirmania Mattirolomyces

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.