2015

Rare mushroom found in Latgale Region

The extremely rare and protected Sarcosoma globosum, which so far was seen only in East Kurzeme and North Vidzeme regions, was also found in Latgale province this spring, according to experts of the Latvian Museum of Natural History. Edgars Zapans, an employee of JSC "Latvian State Forests", noticed the mushroom in Rezekne Region's Lendzi County, not far from Kozlova Forest, in a firebreak under fir-trees, alongside wood-sorrels, bilberries, and liverleaves. The mushroom is not edible.

Sarcosoma globosum is a rare and protected species in Latvia and Europe. It was believed that the mushroom had gone extinct in Latvia; however, during the past couple of years, it has been spotted in four places: in the spring of 2015, Sarcosoma globosum was found in Valka Region's Vijciems County near Kankarisi Rock; recently, pickers came across it twice also in Tukums Region's Putnini Forest; in 2012, it was found in Ape Region's Trapene County, but in 2014, – in Ape Region's Gaujiena County. This is the fifth discovered in Latvia, and first – in Latgale.

The Latvian Museum of Natural History has been informed about the unexpected find, and the mushroom has been included in JSC "Latvian State Forests" data base. In order to preserve the rare species and provide the mushroom with the necessary natural microclimate, an area of the deposit was established, banning further logging in the zone.

No significant study has been conducted on this mushroom species in Latvia; however, Finnish scientists report that Sarcosoma globosum prefers warm winters. This is probably why such a rarity has surfaced in the forests of Latgale this spring.