Rare Fungus Discovered in Leicestershire After Over a Century

In a remarkable discovery, a rare fungus known as the Candelabra Coral has been spotted in Leicestershire for the first time in over a century. The fungus was recorded on September 28th in Burrow Wood, near Copt Oak, by members of the Leicestershire Fungi Study Group.

Melinda Bell, a 70-year-old retired biology teacher from Ashby, was the one who spotted the "pretty" coral-like fungus growing on a moss-covered log during a walk. She immediately recognized the distinctive crown-like tips that resemble the turrets of a castle, and after researching online and in books, she confirmed her find.

The Candelabra Coral was thought to be extinct in the UK until it was recorded in 2012 in Suffolk, almost 116 years after the previous report. This latest sighting in Leicestershire is the most northerly location the fungus has been found since then, with other recent records coming from Kent, Norfolk, Middlesex, Surrey, and Sussex.

Geoffrey Hall from the Leicestershire Fungi Study Group said the reasons for the fungus's sudden reappearance are unknown, as it is a medium-sized and distinctive species that is unlikely to have been overlooked in the past. He noted that the fungus is part of the group that decomposes and recycles woody material, making it a vital component of the woodland ecosystem.