Kalaharituber | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Fungi |
Division: | Ascomycota |
Class: | Pezizomycetes |
Order: | Pezizales |
Family: | Pezizaceae |
Genus: |
Kalaharituber Trappe & Kagan-Zur (2005) |
Species: | K. pfeilii
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Binomial name | |
Kalaharituber pfeilii | |
Synonyms | |
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Kalaharituber is a fungal genus in the family Pezizaceae. [1] It is a monotypic genus, whose single truffle-like species, Kalaharituber pfeilii, is found in the Kalahari Desert, which spans the larger part of Botswana, the east of Namibia and the Northern Cape Province of South Africa. [2] [3] [4]
The fungus was first described scientifically in 1895 by German mycologist Paul Christoph Hennings as Terfezia pfeilii. [5] It was moved to its own genus in 2005 by James Trappe and Varda Kagan-Zur. [6]
Fruiting bodies can be up to 12 centimetres (4+3⁄4 in) in diameter. These weigh approximately 200 grams (7 oz), although larger rains (which affect weight) can cause them to weigh twice as much. [2] These fruits grow close to the surface, which causes surface cracks on the ground above [3] [7] after rains. These fruiting bodies can occur as much as 40 cm away from the main hyphae. [7]
Kalaharituber pfeilii is found the Kalahari Desert, as well as in other arid regions of South Africa, Angola, Botswana and Namibia. It is found in soils with a 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%. [7]
Kalaharituber pfeilii is known to form an ectomycorrhizal relationship with Citrillus lanatus ( watermelon), and is suspected to have a number of other possible relationships with other plant species. These include Sorghum bicolor, Eragrostis spp., Grewia flava, [3] [4] several species of acacia, [7] and Cynodon dactylon. [3]
It is eaten by meerkats, hyenas, baboons and bat-eared foxes. [2]
The current populations of K. pfeilii are thought to be in deterioration, with possible causes advanced being over-harvesting, climate change or the land practices used in K. pfeilii habitats. [3] [4]
Kalaharituber pfeilii is eaten by humans. [2] According to a case study by the Australian National Botanic Gardens, the fruiting body is eaten by the Khoisan and other indigenous peoples of the Kalahari. Some commercial use of the species occurs. [2]
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