After five years of research, Hainan Medical University has confirmed and published a new macrofungus species, Inocybe danxiaensis, as announced by the Danxia Mountain Management Committee in Shaoguan City, Guangdong Province on March 12.
This marks the eighth new species of macrofungi and the 50th new species discovered in Danxia Mountain.
Macroscopic characteristics of the newly discovered Inocybe danxiaensis. (Photo: Nanfang Plus)
Microscopic characteristics of the newly discovered Inocybe danxiaensis. (Photo: Nanfang Plus)
The research findings, led by Professor Fan Yuguang's team from Hainan Medical University, were published in the international mycological journal, Journal of Fungi, in December 2024.
Inocybe danxiaensis features a typical umbrella-like shape with a pale yellow stipe and pileus. The genus Inocybe is widely distributed, with over 1,000 known species worldwide.
Most Inocybe species are poisonous. Accidental ingestion can stimulate the human central nervous system, causing symptoms such as drooling, tearing, and sweating. However, Inocybe mushrooms also play a crucial role in forest ecosystems—they can form symbiotic relationships with trees, promoting nutrient cycling and transformation, thereby contributing significantly to maintaining the natural ecological balance.
Danxia Mountain National Nature Reserve is renowned as the epitome of the Danxia landform worldwide, and its rich biodiversity has also attracted significant attention in recent years.
(Photo: Danxia Mountain scenic spot)
Since 2019, the Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, and Sun Yat-sen University have been conducting continuous surveys of macrofungi in Danxia Mountain, collecting over 3,000 specimens. They have successively published descriptions of seven new species of macrofungi, including Rickenella danxiashanensis, Hodophilus glaberripes, Cantharellus austrosinensis, Gyroporus atrocyanescens, Gloeocantharellus neoechinosporus, Geastrum lichi, and Suillellus rufobrunneus.
Eight new species of macrofungi discovered in Danxia Mountain. (Photo: Nanfang Plus)
With these discoveries, the total number of new species of fungi found in Danxia Mountain has now surpassed 400, belonging to 2 phyla, 7 classes, 18 orders, 64 families, and 160 genera. Many specimens are still under study and yet to be identified.
Author | Zhong Haiqiong
Editor | Huang Qini, James, Shen He
