Fauna
Fungus

Summer Truffle

Tuber aestivum

Also known as Burgundy Truffle, Black Summer Truffle, Saint John's Truffle

Summer truffles form underground fruiting bodies with a dark, heavily textured outer crust covered in prominent pyramid-shaped warts. These subterranean fungi establish vital mycorrhizal partnerships with broadleaf trees, trading absorbed soil minerals for host sugars. As the fruiting body matures beneath the soil surface, it emits a powerful aroma that entices burrowing mammals to dig it up and disperse its spores.

SubterraneanMycorrhizalFungus
Summer Truffle reference1 / 7
(c) Davide Puddu, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Davide Puddu · cc-by
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyMycorrhizal (symbiotic nutrient exchange with tree roots)
Predators
  • Wild Boar
  • Red Squirrel
  • Truffle Fly
ThreatsSoil compaction, habitat loss, climate change and severe drought
HabitatsBroadleaf forests, calcareous soils, oak and beech woodlands
Life spanPerennial underground network; individual truffles persist several weeks
Classification
  1. FamilyTuberaceae
  2. SpeciesTuber aestivum
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Many wild fungi have toxic look-alikes; never consume wild mushrooms or truffles based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
  • Look for Brûlés: Check around tree bases for circular patches of cleared vegetation caused by fungal root interactions.
  • Identify Host Trees: Search near mature oak, beech, and hazel trees growing in chalky or limestone-rich soils.
  • Observe Insect Behavior: Watch for small brown flies hovering near ground level over buried fruiting bodies.
Related species
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