Truffle

fungi · underground · rare delicacy

Underground fruiting body. Truffles are the fruiting bodies of fungi that live beneath the soil. Unlike mushrooms that grow above ground, truffles stay hidden underground where they develop their special flavors and textures.

Hard to find treasure. Because truffles grow underground and can be hard to spot, people have traditionally used trained pigs and dogs to sniff them out. A single truffle can be worth a lot of money because they're so rare and delicious.

Fungal family members. There are actually many different kinds of fungi called truffles, including over one hundred different species in various genera. They all belong to the same scientific group called Pezizomycetes and share similar underground growing habits.

Special smell signals. Truffles release a strong smell that animals like pigs and dogs can detect from far away underground. This scent helps the fungi spread their spores when animals dig them up and eat them.

Grows in partnerships. Truffles form special relationships with tree roots in the soil, helping the trees get nutrients while the fungus gets food from the trees. This teamwork is why truffles are only found in certain forests and soil conditions.