Imagine walking through an ancient woodland in England and stumbling upon something that looks like a tongue growing out of the ground. That’s exactly what happened to Liz Frost at Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve in West Sussex. The tongue-like organism in question? An extremely rare fungus known as the blue-based earthtongue (Microglossum cyanobasis).
Prior to Frost’s discovery, the bizarre-looking fungus had never been recorded in the UK. In fact, it’s only the second time it has ever been documented in Europe – the first was 20 years ago in northern Spain.
"I was so excited to stumble upon this extraordinary, tiny, delicate, tongue-shaped fungus while exploring at Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve," says Frost, a fungi enthusiast from Sussex, England.
"Little did I know I had just made the first ever UK sighting of the blue-based earthtongue."
Despite its strange appearance, the blue-based earthtongue’s diminutive size (45–55mm) and its subtle colouration (pinkish brown at the top, turning to cream and then bluish green at the base) make it incredibly hard to spot.
The fungus was identified with help from the British Mycological Society and confirmed via DNA sequencing.
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Rachel Guy, Kingley Vale National Nature reserve manager, Natural England, says the find is a reminder of why natural environments such as Kingley Vale require careful stewardship.
"The discovery of the earthtongue fungus shows off high-quality habitats and highlights the value of our 224 National Nature Reserves in England," says Guy. "These special places of exceptional ecological value are a credit to everyone who looks after them.
"The presence of the fungus signals undisturbed, nutrient poor grasslands and long-established woodland soils," adds Guy. "These environments are becoming increasingly rare due to fertilisation, drainage, ploughing and land-use change."
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