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Rare Blue-Based Fungus Found in UK Woodland
16 Aug
Summary
- A rare blue-based earthtongue fungus was discovered in West Sussex.
- This fungus had never been previously recorded in Britain.
- DNA sequencing confirmed a 99% match with a Spanish specimen.
An amateur mycologist's keen eye has led to the first documented discovery of the blue-based earthtongue fungus, Microglossum cyanobasis, in Britain. Liz Frost found the unusual species during a walk in Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve in West Sussex in December 2025. These small, tongue-shaped fungi, only a few centimetres tall, were hidden amongst the woodland floor's natural debris.
Frost's find represents only the second known European occurrence of Microglossum cyanobasis, with the species first identified in northern Spain in 2009. The discovery was substantiated through DNA sequencing, which revealed a 99% genetic similarity to the Spanish specimen. This scientific verification transformed an intriguing observation into a significant addition to the UK's fungal records.
The presence of the blue-based earthtongue suggests undisturbed, nutrient-poor soils, conditions increasingly rare due to land use changes. Kingley Vale's ancient woodland, with soils estimated to be centuries old, provides the ideal habitat for such specialized species, highlighting the ecological value of protected nature reserves.
