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DNA analysis has confirmed that a rare mushroom discovered in Jersey six months ago is the first record of the species in the British Isles.
Local mushroom enthusiast Charlotte Shenkin came across what she believed to be a rare fungi species called Russula stenocystidiata while driving back from Jersey Zoo with her toddler in August.
But it was only this week that DNA analysis confirmed her discovery.
Pictured: Charlotte shared the good news on the 'Jersey (CI) Wild Mushroom Hunting!' group.
Charlotte explained how she first discovered the mushroom in the summer.
"I spotted an eye-catching pink mushroom growing on a grass verge," she said.
"After a sharp detour, I found myself looking at something that definitely felt unusual and possibly rare!"
Having previously worked as a zookeeper, lab technician, aquarist and science teacher, Charlotte knows her way around a microscope.
However, the process of identifying a rare mushroom was a complex one.
Charlotte said: "To identify Russulas you have to do quite a few standard tests, things like; what they smell like, do they bruise a different colour, what colour are the spores, using a microscope to look at the shape of the spores, etc."
Pictured: Wild mushroom lover Charlotte Shenkin spotted the Russula stenocystidiata in August.
After completing these tests, Charlotte posted about what she’d found on a specialist Facebook group.
British expert Geoffrey Kibby, who is a research associate at Kew Gardens, got in touch with her to confirm that there were no previous records of this species in the British Isles.
Pictured: Charlotte has a lot of experience using microscopes and chemical testing which she said "definitely helped" whilst trying to identify the fungi.
With guidance from Dutch and Italian mycologists, Charlotte then used special chemicals to stain and examine specific cells in the mushroom's gills and cap to confirm its identity.
“That and a few other defining features seemed to have confirmed it," said Charlotte.
"But as scientists we always want to be really sure and get as much evidence as possible to make sure we’re recording valid data, so I was still hanging on for the DNA sequencing before I could jump for joy!”
However, there was a bump in the road after Geoffrey analysed the samples Charlotte provided in September and "didn’t feel so certain about it being Russula stenocystidiata once he looked at the spores and cap under the microscope".
Pictured: Charlotte shared her rare find in August with the local fungi community on the 'Jersey (CI) Wild Mushroom Hunting!' group.
Geoffrey then arranged for the Surrey Fungus Study Group to sequence the mushroom's DNA to determine the species by analysing its genetic material.
Charlotte said: “With their help, my collected samples, and Geoffrey organising it, we managed to prove this new record for the British Isles without doubt.”
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Pictured top: Stacked spores (Geoffrey Kibby) and Russula stenocystidiata (Charlotte Shenkin).
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