1805 L. de Boisgelin I. i. iv. 72 The grand-masters had the sole privilege of gathering this plant, named Fungus Melitensis—Maltese Mushroom.
1978 D. J. Mabberley in V. H. Heywood 175/3 It [sc. Cynomorium coccineum] is so unlike flowering plants in its appearance that in medieval times it was known as Fungus melitensis, or Maltese mushroom.