One of the most dangerous mushrooms in the world, named "glowing deer horns", was first discovered in the far north of Australia, thousands of kilometers from the Japanese and Korean mountains, its zone of origin.
The specimen of "podostroma cornu-damae" was found by a photographer in a suburb of Cairns, Queensland, before being identified by researchers, said Thursday the James Cook University (JCU). Deaths have been reported in the past in Korea and Japan, in the case of people who had taken these bright red "glowing deer horns" for other fungi used in traditional medicine, and had consumed it as an infusion.
Matt Barrett, a JCU mycologist, said the discovery of the fungus in Australia was "extending" its range considerably. The "glowing deer horns" are the only known fungus whose toxins can be absorbed through the skin.
Its consumption can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, fever and various symptoms that, without treatment, can result in organ failure or brain damage and death. "The fact that we can find in our garden such singular and medically important fungi as the glowing deer horns shows that we still have a lot to learn about mushrooms in Northern Australia," said M Barrett.