Giant Termite Mushroom, scientifically Termitomyces titanicus, is a species of edible fungus in the family Lyophyllaceae found in West Africa, with a cap that may reach 1 meter in diameter on a stipe up to 57 centimeters long. Like other members of its genus it is symbiotic with termites of the genus Macrotermes, which raise its hyphae on partially digested leaves as their primary food; it was first described by David Pegler and G. D. Piearce in the Kew Bulletin in 1980, who called it incredible that so large and popularly known a fungus in Zambia had remained undescribed until then.
Facts
Classification
DietDetritivore or Scavenger 1 System (Realm) Relationship to PeopleEaten or Drunk by People 3 Living or Extinct Scientific Name Connections
Child Taxon Of
Source GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Termitomyces titanicus
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Termitomyces titanicus (Wikipedia)Distribution: AfricaQuote, Distribution: Africa
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.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Termitomyces titanicus (Wikipedia)Distribution: ZambiaQuote, Distribution: Zambia
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.
Sources
1. FUNGuild: FUNGuild fungal guild database
FUNGuildRecord: TermitomycesQuote, Record: Termitomyces
"taxon":"Termitomyces" ... "trophicMode":"Saprotroph"
2. Global Biodiversity Information Facility: GBIF species profiles for Termitomyces titanicus
Global Biodiversity Information FacilitySpecies profileQuote, Species profile
"taxonKey": 3347409, "marine": false, "freshwater": false, "terrestrial": true, "extinct": false, "source": "Catalogue of Life"
3. Termitomyces titanicus (Wikipedia)
Lead
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.
Edible use
Termitomyces titanicus (common name chi-ngulu-ngulu) is a species of edible fungus in the Lyophyllaceae family.
View the Source4. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Termitomyces titanicus
GBIF Backbone TaxonomyTaxon recordQuote, Taxon record
"canonicalName": "Termitomyces titanicus"
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