A rare mushroom, Mutinus ravenelii, has been discovered in Novosibirsk’s city center, specifically in the memorial square dedicated to those who fell during the Civil War on Krasny Prospekt. This find, reported by a local resident, marks another instance of the mushroom’s appearance in the region.

The mushroom, characterized by its unusual shape, red color, and a distinctive odor resembling rotten meat, was spotted on the afternoon of June 17. Mutinus ravenelii is listed in the regional Red Book, indicating its rarity and conservation status.

Mycologists explain that the mushroom initially forms as a light round egg underground, during which stage it is considered edible. However, once the egg darkens and releases a pod, the mushroom becomes inedible.

This is not the first sighting of Mutinus ravenelii in the Novosibirsk region, with previous reports documented in 2022 and 2021. Irina Gorbunova, a mycologist and senior researcher at the Laboratory of Lower Plants of the Central Siberian Botanical Garden of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, suggests that the mushroom’s population is expanding.

Gorbunova believes that further research may lead to the mushroom’s removal from the Red Book due to its increasing prevalence in human-influenced environments. She also noted that flies facilitate the spread of this mushroom in areas abundant in organic matter.

In related news, Novosibirsk residents have already begun collecting porcini mushrooms in mid-June, indicating the start of the mushroom season in the region.