A Rare Mushroom Has Been Found Again In Belovezhskaya Pushcha

This may be the largest population in the world.

The world’s largest population of the rare fungus Osteina rhodophila has been discovered in Belovezhskaya Pushcha. It grows on the “remains” of wood-decaying fungi, according to the national park.

The Osteina rhodophila fungus grows exclusively on old, dead perennial fruiting bodies of another rare species—the pink tinder fungus (Fomitopsis rosea)—which is listed in the Red Book.

“The geographic status of Osteina rhodophila is unique: to date, this species has not been recorded anywhere in Europe except in Belovezhskaya Pushcha,” the national park noted.

Fourteen sites of stable fruiting of this species have already been found in our primeval forest. This distribution is attributed to the strict conservation regime.

“The Osteina fungus is vitally dependent on large-sized spruce windfall in the late stages of decomposition, already colonized by pink tinder fungus, as well as a stable microclimate. Any kind of human activity—such as sanitary logging or clearing the forest of debris—completely destroys this complex ecological chain,” officials at the national park explained.

It should be noted that in Belovezhskaya Pushcha, rare mushrooms are regularly found.

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