Overview
Discovered and described in 2020 by mycologists at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Cortinarius heatherae is a graceful gilled mushroom named in honor of mycologist Andy Overall’s wife, Heather. Uncovered in a modest wooded strip along the River Crane near London’s bustling Heathrow Airport, its finding proves that novel biodiversity thrives even on the edges of major metropolitan centers.
Biology and Physical Characteristics
Belongs to the hyperdiverse webcap genus Cortinarius, characterized by a fine, cobweb-like partial veil (cortina) that protects the developing gills when young. The cap is bell-shaped to convex, displaying a warm chestnut-brown to reddish-ochre coloration with a slightly hygrophanous surface. The gills are cinnamon-brown at maturity, releasing rusty-brown elliptical basidiospores.
Behavior and Ecology
Operates as a vital ectomycorrhizal partner, enveloping the fine feeder roots of riparian deciduous trees—predominantly alders (Alnus) and willows (Salix). In exchange for photosynthetic carbohydrates, the subterranean mycelium transfers water, phosphorus, and nitrogen to its hosts, stabilizing fragile alluvial riverbanks against erosion.
Conservation and Human Impact
Assessed as Least Concern due to widespread availability of riparian woodland corridors across western Europe. However, urban runoff, chemical effluents, and channelization of suburban waterways degrade the sensitive soil mycorrhizae necessary for fruiting.
Interesting Factoid
Despite being located right beside one of the world’s busiest international flight paths at London Heathrow Airport, this fungus went completely unnoticed by science until modern DNA barcoding confirmed its novelty in 2020.
Last updated: October 2026