Suddenly, a strange underground discovery in Palakkad district of Kerala has caught the attention of scientists, biodiversity researchers and even people interested in traditional medicine.
In the village of Karakorosi, a farmer while digging land for farming discovered several unusual mushroom-like structures hidden under the soil. At first glance, it didn’t look particularly impressive. However, researchers later identified it as Sclerotium stipitatum, a rare subterranean fungus locally known as ‘Nilamanga’ or ‘Earth Mango’, reported local Kerala news.The name itself seems misleading. It almost suggests a variety of forgotten fruit buried underground.
In fact, this is a rare fungus that grows secretly beneath the surface of the soil, often in areas rich in termite activity. Such discoveries are becoming increasingly uncommon, researchers say, partly because underground fungi are still poorly studied across India. Some experts believe that many species may disappear before science properly documents them.
Rare’Earth mango Exploring underground reveals hidden fungal species
As reported by Onmanorama, the organism discovered in Karakurussi has been identified as Sclerotium stipitatum, an unknown underground fungal species.
Reports indicate that about 20 underground fungal structures were recovered from the site during the excavation process.Unlike ordinary mushrooms that appear above the soil after rain, this fungus develops mostly underground. This hidden growth pattern makes it difficult to detect and even more difficult to study under natural conditions. Researchers say this may explain why this species rarely appears in biodiversity records despite being present in certain areas for several generations.Residents reportedly recognized the mushroom immediately. In parts of Kerala, it has long been known by names like ‘Nilamanga’ and ‘chithalkizhangu’. The nickname “Earth Mango” appears to come primarily from its underground shape and appearance rather than from any connection to actual mangoes.Scientists confirmed that there is no botanical connection between the mushroom and edible mango fruits.
Why the rare ground mango mushroom attracts medical attention
This discovery has sparked interest largely because of the medicinal value of the mushroom in local traditional practices.
It seems that people in the region have associated it with remedies for coughs, colds, stomach aches, jaundice, earaches, and body aches for many years. Researchers remain cautious about these claims.At present, there is limited scientific evidence proving that mushrooms can treat any medical condition. However, experts say fungi often contain bioactive compounds that may have pharmaceutical potential. Many important medicines, including some antibiotics, originally came from mycological research.
This possibility alone makes rare species like Sclerotium stipitatum worth studying more carefully.Some scholars believe that traditional ecological knowledge could hold important clues that modern science has not yet fully explored. In rural communities, people sometimes learn about beneficial plants and fungi through generations of observation rather than laboratory testing. This does not automatically make every treatment scientifically valid, although it often gives researchers a useful starting point.
Why Kerala’s rare ground mango mushroom grows underground near termites
One detail that particularly interested the researchers was the fungus’s apparent connection to termite-rich soil environments. According to early observations, Sclerotium stipitatum appears to grow in areas where termite activity is common. Scientists are still trying to understand exactly how communication works.It may simply be that termites create suitable soil conditions for fungal growth. Another possibility is that the fungus is somehow dependent on the underground ecosystem created around termite colonies.
Researchers say more detailed environmental studies are needed before firm conclusions can be drawn.The fungus also appears to be closely associated with wet soil conditions during monsoon and post-monsoon periods in Kerala. Humidity is said to play a major role in its underground development. Because these environmental conditions vary from year to year, it remains difficult to predict the emergence or cultivation of mushrooms.
Could rare fungi disappear before science studies them?
The Kerala discovery has also reopened broader concerns about India’s fungal biodiversity.
Experts say fungi remain one of the least documented groups of organisms despite their ecological and medical importance.Unlike birds, mammals, or flowering plants, many fungal species remain hidden underground for most of their life cycle. Some appear only during short seasonal periods. Others grow in isolated habitats that are increasingly threatened by land use changes, chemical agriculture, and environmental disturbance.The researchers point out that many rare fungal species may already be quietly declining without attracting public attention. Because underground fungi are difficult to monitor, scientists often realize that species disappear only after the habitat has already changed significantly.
