Scientists have discovered a previously unknown species of mushroom in the Himalayan forests of Uttarakhand. This unique find, nestled beneath oak trees at high altitudes, adds an exciting new chapter to India’s rich fungal diversity and marks the first official record of its genus in the country.
Why is it in the News?
Researchers have identified a new pitted-spore mushroom species called Hemileccinum indicum in the oak forests of Uttarakhand. This discovery, made during field studies conducted between 2022 and 2023, is significant as it’s the first time the genus Hemileccinum has been documented in India.
Where and How Was the Mushroom Discovered?
The mushroom was discovered in the Bageshwar district, specifically in the Dhakuri region, which sits at an impressive altitude of over 2,600 meters in the Indian Himalayas. The find was made during macrofungal forays—systematic field explorations carried out during the monsoon season to catalog large fungi. These surveys were conducted by a team of researchers from the Botanical Survey of India, the University of Torino, and St. Xavier’s College.
Key Discovery Details
- Scientific Name: Hemileccinum indicum (named after India, its country of origin).
- Physical Features: It is a bolete mushroom, meaning it has pores instead of gills under its cap. It features a wrinkled, violet-brown cap that matures to leathery brown and a pastel yellow pore surface that does not bruise.
- Unique Trait: Under a scanning electron microscope, the mushroom reveals tiny, intricate pits on its spores, a feature that distinguishes it from its relatives in North America and China.
- Location: Found in the Dhakuri region at elevations exceeding 2,600 metres during monsoon surveys in 2022 and 2023.
- Research Team: Led by mycologist Kanad Das, the study involved scientists from the Botanical Survey of India, the University of Torino, and St. Xavier’s College, Jharkhand.
