2021

A Number of Rare and Specially Protected Fungus Species have been Found in the LVM South Latgale Region

At the end of October, during daily work in the forest, an environmental expert of JSC “Latvia’s State Forests” (LVM) found a number of very rare and specially protected fungus species in the LVM South Latgale Region.

The very rare Asterodon ferruginosus has been found in the LVM Viesīte Forest District. The species is included in the list of specially protected species in Latvia, it is a specific species of natural forest habitats. Micro-reserves may be established to protect habitats of these species. The species inhabits felling residues. A very rare species of fungus belonging to the family Polyporaceae called Skeletocutis stellae has also been found in the Viesīte Forest District in the LVM South Latgale Region. This species inhabits biologically high-value forests rich in large-diameter coniferous felling residues.

In the vicinity of Svariņi, in the Krāslava Forest District, an impressive find of the Dentipellis fragilis was discovered. The fungus formed a continuous cover of about 3 m on black alder felling residues. The Dentipellis fragilis, which is rare in Latvia, grows on dead deciduous wood, trunks, large branches.

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Rare fungus species in the LVM South Latgale Region

New deposits of the Hericium coralloides were discovered this autumn. Aspen felling residues with 14 fruit bodies of Hericium coralloides at various stages of development have been found in the vicinity of Sala in the Viesīte Forest District. Mycologists consider the Hericium coralloides to be one of the most beautiful fungus in the world. The Hericium coralloides is a large fungus up to a few decimetres in size, white, yellowish or, less commonly, pink.

A very little-known species of fungus, the Sarcoporia polyspora, which grows on coniferous felling residues, has also been spotted in the Viesīte Forest District. Information on this species is still being acquired. Only about 20 deposits of this species are known in the territory of Latvia.