New types of fungi found in Britain

LONDON, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- New types of mushrooms, some tasty, some possibly deadly, are cropping up in Britain, experts say.

Dr. Peter Roberts of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, told the BBC at least 10 species new to the United Kingdom have been reported in the last two weeks alone.

It may be the fungi have always existed in the country but weren't spotted until they flourished because of the wet summer and recent warmer winters, the network reported Thursday. Or it's possible the mushroom spores reached Britain's shores by air or water.

Among the new species is one called Tuber mesentericum, or Bagnoli truffle, which is loved in Italy for its pungent flavor. But another new type, known as pinkgills, has some very poisonous variations.

Nicholas Evans, who wrote "The Horse Whisperer," was taken to a hospital last month after picking and eating poisonous wild mushrooms while vacationing in Scotland.