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What, if anything, is a truffle?"Truffles are ascomycetous fungi belonging to the genus Tuber..." (S. Z.)
Truffles are edible fungi with enclosed underground (hypogeous) fruit bodies. In order to complete their life cycle, they must enter into symbioses with the roots of trees, such as the oak, poplar and willow, via specialized nutrient-gathering organs known as mycorrhizae. Truffles belong to the order of Pezizales, widespread filamentous Ascomycetes which also include species with exposed (epigeous) fruit bodies, such as the morels. The highest prized truffles belong to the genus Tuber as for example the white truffle Tuber magnatum and the black Tuber melanosporum.
Mycological jargon? Here is a glossary
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