An extremely rare mushroom that looks as if it’s wearing yellow rubber boots has been found on Observatory Hill in Saanich. Victoria mycologist Oluna Ceska, who is working on a fungi inventory for scientists at the National Research Council’s Dominion Astrophysical Observatory, found the Squamanita paradoxa mushroom Nov. 27 and has now had its identity confirmed. It’s the first time the Squamanita has been found in Canada, she said.

Ceska’s husband, Adolf, former botany curator at the Royal B.C. Museum, was with her when the strange mushroom was found. “Adolf almost wanted to throw it away and I said, ‘My God, put it back and take pictures,’ ” said Ceska, who did not know exactly what it was, but sensed it was rare.

“I thought it was just a new species of a genus I knew, but when I got home I couldn’t find out what it was.”

Squamanita paradoxa and host collected in Wales (Malcolm Storey)

This species also goes by the outstanding common name “powdercap strangler.” That’s cool.

More on Squamanita:

Botany photo of the day (Squamanita)

Squamanita in the Pacific Northwest

The Squamaninta Wikipedia page sure needs some work

Squamanita at the Encyclopedia of Life

Squamanita at Bioimages.org (with links to photos)