The Wu Sangong golden boletus discovered in the Baishanzu Nature Reserve. [Photo/Tide News]

Two new species of boletus mushrooms have been discovered in the Baishanzu Nature Reserve in Lishui, named Wu Sangong golden boletus and Baishanzu forked gill boletus, according to Tide News on Dec 3.

"When we first discovered the Wu Sangong golden boletus, we found it very distinctive, with its deeply netted stipe," said Lin Wenfei, executive deputy director of the Institute of Edible and Medicinal Fungi at Zhejiang University's College of Life Sciences.

Under the microscope, researchers were astonished to find that the Baishanzu forked gill boletus has a clamp connection structure, indicating it belongs to a new genus of fungi, according to Lin.

Regarding the significance of these two new species, Zeng Niankai, a professor from the College of Life Sciences at Hainan Normal University, explains that their symbiotic relationships with Fagaceae plants play an indispensable role in maintaining subtropical forest ecosystems.

Lishui is rich in fungi, and the discovery of new species provides scientific evidence for the protection of local biodiversity and the research of wild edible and medicinal fungi.