Scientists believe that the human-shaped mushroom, found 15 years ago, is in fact a new species of mushroom.
Geastrum britannicum mushroom.
The poisonous mushroom was first discovered in Cockley Cley, Norfolk county, eastern England, in 2000. Scientists confirmed that this was a completely new species and named it Geastrum britannicum. To date, they have only been found in England.
Geastrum britannicum is shaped like a fisherman with a small round mushroom head similar to a beach hat, and the mushroom flesh protruding from both sides looks like arms. The mushroom stays fresh for a few weeks then gradually dries.
“For us, this discovery is like a bird watcher discovering a rare bird. This is not only a mushroom species new to Norfolk or England, but also new to science,” Yesterday’s Telegraph quoted Tony Leech, a mushroom researcher in Norfolk, as saying.
Previously, experts believed that this was a variant of the rare Rayed Earthstar mushroom. Through DNA sequence analysis in Spain, they identified this as a new species.
