Striking it licky: rare tongue-shaped fungus found for first time in UK

Microglossum cyanobasis was found sprouting at the Kingley Vale national nature reserve in West Sussex. Photograph: Liz Frost

The discovery of a rare, tongue-shaped fungus is being hailed as a sign of the crucial ecological value of England’s national nature reserves.

Never before recorded in the UK, the blue-based earthtongue, also known as Microglossum cyanobasis, was found sprouting at the Kingley Vale national nature reserve in West Sussex.