Genea Explained

Genea is a genus of truffle-like fungi in the family Pyronemataceae. There are about 32 species in the genus that occur in North America and Europe.

With the help of a trained dog, scientists discovered 2024 that there are probably still some non-descript species. Furthermore, these truffles seem to disappear completely from the fir-dominated forests for years after a forest fire.

The genus was circumscribed by Italian mycologist Carlo Vittadini in 1831.

The genus name of Genea is in honour of Carlo Giuseppe Gené (1800 - 1847), who was an Italian scientist (Zoology) and Professor of Zoology at theTurin Museum of Natural History.^[1]

Selected species

• Genea anthracina
• Genea balsleyi
• Genea cazaresii
• Genea eucalyptorum
• Genea harknessii
• Genea hispidula
• Genea klotzschii
• Genea kraspedostoma
• Genea papillosa
• Genea pseudoverrucosa
• Genea sphaerica
• Genea subbaetica
• Genea verrucosa

Notes and References

1. Book: Burkhardt, Lotte . Eine Enzyklopädie zu eponymischen Pflanzennamen . Encyclopedia of eponymic plant names . Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum, Freie Universität Berlin . 2022 . 978-3-946292-41-8 . pdf . German . Berlin . 10.3372/epolist2022 . January 27, 2022.