A “Science Fiction” monster appears in nature… Discovery of the “giant puffball” fungus
The poisonous fungus contains substances that can cause illness or death when consumed, and there are more than 2000 species of poisonous fungi in the world.
Researchers have discovered a new type of fungus and named it the “giant Puffball.”
Scientists found a resemblance in its appearance to the sandworms famous in the science fiction novel by Frank Herbert.
This new species was discovered in Hungary and is considered one of four new species in the “Puffball” genus. The other species are “Tulostoma dondense,” “Tulostoma hungaricum,” and “Tulostoma saccharolinense.”
The researchers drew inspiration for the name “giant Puffball” from its appearance, resembling worms in its fruiting body structure, in addition to its habitat in the sandy steppes of Pannonia, where it was discovered.
These discoveries were of particular significance, as Hungarian steppe plants on sandy soil were shown to be a hotspot for this type of fungus in Europe.
The research team revised the comprehensive classification of intestinal fungi in Hungary, contributing to understanding the diversity of this group, as published in the journal “SciTech Daily.”
