Rare Blue-Based Earthtongue Fungus Discovered for First Time in UK
A rare, tongue-shaped fungus has been discovered for the first time in the United Kingdom, sparking excitement among conservationists and highlighting the critical ecological importance of England's national nature reserves. The blue-based earthtongue, scientifically known as Microglossum cyanobasis, was found sprouting at the Kingley Vale national nature reserve in West Sussex, marking only the second recorded sighting of this species in Europe.
Amateur Enthusiast Makes Groundbreaking Find
Liz Frost, an amateur fungus enthusiast who frequently visits Kingley Vale, made the extraordinary discovery in December while exploring the ancient yew woodland. In a blogpost on the Natural England website, Frost expressed her disbelief, stating, "I still can't quite believe it." She described stumbling upon a tiny, tongue-shaped fungus poking through moss and leaf litter, unaware that she had just documented the first UK sighting of Microglossum cyanobasis.
The fungus stands about 45-55mm tall with delicate, fragile stems, resembling small tongues emerging from the earth. What sets it apart from more common earthtongues is its distinctive cyan-bluish tinge at the base of the stem. Frost explained, "That's actually where its name comes from – 'cyanobasis' meaning blue base. It's this feature that sets it apart from other earthtongues. Earthtongue fungi can act as indicators of high-quality habitats ... Finding them tells us that a site has real ecological value."
Ecological Significance and Conservation Efforts
Natural England hailed the find as a reminder that careful environmental stewardship can yield extraordinary results. Rachel Guy, manager of the Kingley Vale nature reserve, emphasized the discovery's importance, saying, "The discovery of the earthtongue fungus shows off high-quality habitats and highlights the value of our 224 national nature reserves in England. These special places of exceptional ecological value are a credit to everyone who looks after them."
Guy further noted that the presence of Microglossum cyanobasis signals undisturbed, nutrient-poor grasslands and long-established woodland soils, environments that are becoming increasingly rare due to factors such as fertilisation, drainage, ploughing, and land-use change. This underscores the urgent need for protection of Earth's underground fungal networks, as highlighted by recent research.
First discovered in northern Spain in 2009, this rare fungus serves as a beacon for biodiversity conservation, reinforcing the role of protected areas in preserving delicate ecosystems. The discovery at Kingley Vale not only adds to the UK's fungal records but also champions the ongoing efforts to safeguard natural habitats against environmental pressures.
