The Korea National Arboretum of the Korea Forest Service has reported a new species, Xylaria gwangneungensis, discovered for the first time in Gwangneung Forest.

Gwangneung Forest, established around the royal tomb of King Sejo of the Joseon Dynasty over 550 years ago, is one of Korea’s representative natural forests and was designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2010. The discovery of this new species demonstrates that the forest is not only of historical and cultural significance but also serves as a living repository of biodiversity.

To date, a total of 2,302 fungal species have been recorded in Korea, of which 707 species are found in Gwangneung Forest. This means approximately 30% of all documented fungi in Korea are distributed in the forest. Previously, only three fungi Lepista irina, Inosperma shawarense, and Lactarius subdulcis carried the name “Gwangneung” in their Korean names, but this is the first time that the scientific name includes “Gwangneung.”

The new species, Xylaria gwangneungensis, is a small (about 5mm) black, woody ascomycete fungus growing on dead oak trees. It has a distinctive rounded cap on a short stalk. Taxonomic research confirmed that this species is clearly distinguishable from previously known fungi, both morphologically and genetically.

Ascomycetes, unlike Basidiomycota such as oak mushroom and pine mushroom, are generally small and form woody or leathery fruiting bodies. Even though they are not easily noticeable, they play a vital role in nutrient cycling by decomposing leaf litter and dead wood or by forming symbiotic relationships with trees. Representative ascomycetes include truffles (edible), morels (edible), Cordyceps (medicinal), and Podostroma cornu-damae (highly toxic).

The research results were published in the international journal Mycobiology (2025, Vol.53, No.5) and are regarded as a representative achievement in identifying new and unrecorded species based on specimens collected from Korean forests.