News from Australia this month that the world’s deadliest fungus has been discovered in the northern rainforests of Queensland.
The poison fire coral fungus, which looks like some very benign baby carrots sticking out of the soil, was identified by a mushroom photographer. He then took it to a mycology lab, very carefully, to be identified formally.
The bright red species is the only known fungus that is poisonous to touch — it produces at least eight toxic compounds that can be absorbed through the skin.
Several people in Japan and Korea have died after mistaking this fungus for another one used in traditional medicine. Thankfully we are not likely to find this particular fungus lurking in the hedgerows or forests over here in Europe.
