Termitomyces titanicus
| Termitomyces titanicus | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Basidiomycota |
| Class: | Agaricomycetes |
| Order: | Agaricales |
| Family: | Lyophyllaceae |
| Genus: | Termitomyces |
| Species: | T. titanicus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Termitomyces titanicus Pegler & Piearce (1980)
| |
Termitomyces titanicus (common name chi-ngulu-ngulu) is a species of edible fungus in the Lyophyllaceae family. Found in West Africa (as well as Zambia and the Katanga Province of DR Congo), it has a cap that may reach 1 metre (3 ft) in diameter on a stipe up to 57 centimetres (22 inches) in length. Termitomyces is symbiotic with termites of the genus Macrotermes who raise the hyphae upon partially digested leaves as their primary foodstuff.[1] T. titanicus was first described by David Pegler and G. D. Piearce in the Kew Bulletin in 1980; they described it as "incredible that such a large fungus which is popularly known and common in Zambia should have remained undescribed" until that point.[1]: 481
References
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