Saturday 19 September 2020

Not Mushroom

One of the tastes of Autumn looks to be on the verge of disappearance in Japan (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/19/japan-matsutake-mushroom-under-threat). The Matsutake mushroom is a much prized addition to soups and rice but it has recently been placed on the red list of endangered species. The prime reason for its becoming difficult to find is not, for once, over-exploitation but a marked reduction in its habitat and the introduction of a parasitic worm. The mushroom is exclusively found in Red pine forests, which are disappearing (that's why it has a delicate taste of pine) in Japan. The mushroom's remaining habitat has also been invaded by the Pine wood nematode introduced from the USA.

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