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.[1][2][3] Termitomyces is symbiotic with termites of the genus Macrotermes who raise the hyphae upon partially digested leaves as their primary foodstuff. T. titanicus was unknown to Western science prior to 1980, even though it was a common item in the native markets. Pegler and Piearce made no attempt to explain its late discovery.[4]
| Termitomyces titanicus | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Basidiomycota |
| Class: | Agaricomycetes |
| Order: | Agaricales |
| Family: | Lyophyllaceae |
| Genus: | Termitomyces |
| Species: | T. titanicus
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| Binomial name | |
| Termitomyces titanicus Pegler & Piearce (1980)
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References
edit- ^ David N. Pegler and G. D. Piearce, "The Edible Mushrooms of Zambia", KEW BULLETIN Vol. 35 # 3 (1980) pp.479–482.
- ^ Guy Parent and Daniel Thoen,"Food Value of Edible Mushrooms from the Upper Shaba Region", ECONOMIC BOTANY Vol. 31 # 4 (Oct-Dec 1977) p. 436.
- ^ Jessica Groenendijk, "Titan of the Forest" at https://www.jessicagroenendijk.com/single-post/2016/04/19/Titan-of-the-Forest-1 Accessed August 8, 2017.
- ^ Pegler and Piearce KEW BULL. loc. cit.
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