A family found a strange mushroom that looks like a monster from scary movies. The discovery happened inside their basement at Gatchina district near St. Petersburg. People shared photos of the weird fungus on social media groups about mushroom hunting. Scientists identified the specimen as reishi which rarely grows around Leningrad Region.
Nature photographer Anton Kubyshkin took pictures of the unusual find and felt amazed. The mushroom appears on Russia's Red Book list of endangered species. Japanese culture calls reishi the mushroom of spiritual power because people make healing drinks from it. Southeast Asian countries use the fungus to fight stress and boost immune systems.
Normal reishi mushrooms have caps when they grow outside with sunlight. Basement conditions create high moisture and no light which changes their shape completely. The fungus develops twisted forms that look like deer antlers instead of regular caps. Russian laws protect rare plants and require special permits before moving them anywhere else.
Nature photographer Anton Kubyshkin took pictures of the unusual find and felt amazed. The mushroom appears on Russia's Red Book list of endangered species. Japanese culture calls reishi the mushroom of spiritual power because people make healing drinks from it. Southeast Asian countries use the fungus to fight stress and boost immune systems.
Normal reishi mushrooms have caps when they grow outside with sunlight. Basement conditions create high moisture and no light which changes their shape completely. The fungus develops twisted forms that look like deer antlers instead of regular caps. Russian laws protect rare plants and require special permits before moving them anywhere else.
