Hemileccinum Indicum

Hemileccinum Indicum Latest News 

Researchers exploring the temperate forests of the Indian Himalayas have discovered a previously unknown species of mushroom named Hemileccinum indicum.

About Hemileccinum Indicum

• It is a new species of mushroom.
• It was found growing among oak trees in the Bageshwar district of Uttarakhand.
• It marks the first time the genus Hemileccinum has been documented in India.
• To confirm the find, the team performed a multigene molecular phylogenetic analysis, a genetic test that helps map the evolutionary tree of a species.
• Features:
  • Physically, Hemileccinum indicum is a bolete, a type of mushroom that has pores instead of gills under its cap.
  • It features a wrinkled, violet-brown cap that fades to a leathery brown as it matures, and a pastel yellow pore surface that does not change colour when bruised.
  • It has tiny, intricate pits on its spores. 
  • These microscopic pinholes and its smooth stem surface distinguish Hemileccinum indicum from its American and Asian relatives, which often have larger, smooth spores or scaly stems.
  • Ecologically, these mushrooms are ectomycorrhizal, meaning they form a vital symbiotic partnership with the roots of trees, such as the Quercus (oak) species they were found under, helping the forest exchange nutrients and stay healthy.

Source: RM

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