Extremely Rare 30cm Calvatia Gigantea Found Near Jirisan for 13th Consecutive Year

The Calvatia gigantea, known as an extremely rare species worldwide, has been found near Jirisan in Namwon, North Jeolla Province, for the 13th consecutive year.

According to the city of Namwon yesterday (July 23), a 63-year-old resident surnamed Joo, living in Ipseok Village, Sannae-myeon, recently discovered one Calvatia gigantea mushroom in his bokbunja (Korean blackberry) farm.

The location is reportedly an apple orchard that was recently converted into a bokbunja farm, where Calvatia gigantea mushrooms have been discovered over the past several years.

The mushroom is generally round and ball-shaped with a diameter of about 30 cm, displaying a white color just before turning light brown.

With this discovery, Calvatia gigantea mushrooms have been found in this orchard for 13 consecutive years since 2014.

Starting with two in the first year, 2 to 3 have emerged annually, and in recent times, the number has increased to 5 to 8.

Calvatia gigantea mushrooms have also been harvested for about a decade in an apple orchard in Hwasin Village, Unbong-eup, located nearby near the Jirisan foothills.

Experts believe that the mycelium of the Calvatia gigantea remains in these orchards and grows whenever the growth conditions are met every summer.

Calvatia gigantea mushrooms appear in summer and autumn in bamboo groves, grasslands, and mixed forests rich in organic matter, and they are known to be effective in stopping bleeding and detoxification.

(Photo courtesy of Namwon City, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.