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MISATO, Miyazaki — A wild mushroom discovered growing on the premises of a forestry technology center in this town in southwest Japan in July has been confirmed as the first of its kind recorded in Miyazaki Prefecture and the fourth case across the country, according to the prefectural government.

The fungus, which has not yet received an official name, is a scarce parasitic type that depends on the panther cap species as its host, as reported by the center and other references. It looks similar to the matsutake variety in both appearance and scent but features a distinctive swelling on its stem called a “tsubo.”

Since its discovery in Saiki, Oita Prefecture, in 2005, it has also been observed in Kyoto and Nara prefectures. The most recent finding, identified by chief engineer Gaku Mita from the Miyazaki Prefectural Forestry Technology Center on July 29, involved the mushroom growing on the roots of a white birch tree within the center’s premises. The mushroom’s cap is roughly 4 centimeters in diameter, and its height is approximately 5 cm.

The verification was carried out by Shuichi Kurogi, an expert in fungi and deputy director at the Miyazaki Prefectural Museum of Nature and History, along with Yasuaki Murakami, head of the Oita mushroom association. The poisonous nature of the fungus is still unclear.

The center intends to determine the parasitic host, explore additional possible locations in the nearby region, and focus on protecting the site of the discovery.

(Japanese original by Kazuhito Shimozono, Miyazaki Office)