Elaphomyces

Elaphomyces
Elaphomyces muricatus
Scientific classification
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Genus:
Elaphomyces

Nees (1820)
Type species
Elaphomyces granulatus
Fr. (1829)
Species

25, see text

Synonyms

Elaphomyces (‘deer truffles’) is a genus of hypogeous fungi in the family Elaphomycetaceae. The widespread genus contains 25 truffle-like species. Elaphomyces is one of the most important ectomycorrhizal fungal genera in temperate and subarctic forest ecosystems. E. asperulus, E. granulatus, and E. muricatus were found to accumulate arsenic (12–660 mg/kg in dry mass); the composition of organoarsenicals is very unusual, with methylarsonic acid and trimethylarsine oxide as major As compounds.