First Record of Pleated Inkcap in Arunachal Pradesh

In a significant addition to the State’s biodiversity records, a small saprophytic mushroom identified as Parasola plicatilis (Curtis) Redhead, Vilgalys and Hopple – commonly known as the Pleated Inkcap – has been documented for the first time in Arunachal Pradesh. The species was recorded at the experimental farm of ICAR–Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Longding, adding to the region’s known fungal diversity.

Key findings:

• Arunachal Pradesh recorded its first sighting of the Pleated Inkcap mushroom (Parasola plicatilis).
• The discovery was made by researchers from Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU).
• The mushroom was found in the forest ecosystem of Arunachal Pradesh during a field study.
• Pleated Inkcap is a small, delicate mushroom known for its pleated cap structure and short life span.
• It usually grows on moist soil, grasslands, or decaying organic matter after rainfall.
• The finding adds a new fungal record to Arunachal Pradesh’s biodiversity database.