Terfezia arenaria

Diagnostic description: 

Similar in many ways to T. alsheikhii, but the ascospores are larger and verrucose rather than reticulate, and the peridium is composed of hyphal tissue rather than pseudoparenchyma.

Associations: 

Terfezia species have mycorrhizal association with plant roots, typically species of Cistaceae, and are essential to health and growth of their plant partner in arid conditions.

Uses: 

Terfezia species are important foods in desert ecosystems where little else is available to eat, and are prized in North African and Middle Eastern countries.

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith