A strange underground discovery in Kerala’s Palakkad district has suddenly attracted the attention of scientists, biodiversity researchers and even people interested in traditional medicine. In Karakurusi village, a farmer excavated land for farming and reportedly uncovered several unusual mushroom-like structures hidden beneath the soil. At first glance, they didn’t seem particularly remarkable. Yet researchers later identified them as Sclerotium stipitatum, a rare underground fungus known locally as “Neelamanga” or “Earth Mango”, as reported by Kerala local news.The name itself seems misleading. It suggests some forgotten varieties of fruit buried almost underground. In fact, it is a rare fungus that grows secretly beneath the soil surface, often in areas rich in termite activity. Researchers say such discoveries are becoming increasingly uncommon, partly because underground fungi throughout India are poorly studied. Some experts also believe that many species may become extinct before they can be properly documented by science.
Rare ‘earth mango ‘Underground discovery reveals hidden fungus species
As reported by Onmanorama, the organism discovered in Karakuryu was identified as Sclerotium stipitatum, a little-known underground fungus species. Reports suggest that around 20 underground fungal structures were recovered from the site during the excavation process.Unlike normal mushrooms that appear above the soil after rain, this fungus grows mostly underground. That hidden developmental pattern becomes 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 some areas for generations.Residents reportedly recognized the fungus immediately. In parts of Kerala, it has long been known by names such as “Neelamanga” and “Chithalakizhangu”. The nickname “earth mango” appears to have come primarily from its size and underground appearance rather than from any connection to true mangoes.Scientists have confirmed that there is no botanical relationship between the fungus and edible mango fruits.
Why is rare earth mango fungus attracting medical interest?
This discovery has generated interest largely because of the medicinal importance of the fungus in local traditional practices. For many years, people of the region have associated it with the treatment of cough, cold, stomach problems, jaundice, ear pain and body pain. Researchers are still cautious about these claims.Currently, there is limited scientific evidence that proves that fungi can treat any medical condition. Still, experts say fungi often contain bioactive compounds that may have pharmaceutical potential. Many important drugs, including some antibiotics, originally came from fungal research. This possibility is what makes rare species like Sclerotium stipitatum worth studying more carefully.Some scientists believe that traditional ecological knowledge may contain important clues that modern science has not yet fully discovered. In rural communities, people sometimes identify useful plants and fungi through observation over generations rather than laboratory testing. This does not automatically make every measure scientifically correct, although it often gives researchers a useful starting point.
Why does Kerala’s rare mango fungus grow underground near termites?
One detail that particularly interests researchers is the fungus’s apparent association with termite-rich soil environments. According to preliminary observations, Sclerotium stipitatum appears to grow in areas where termite activity is common. Scientists are still trying to understand how the connection works.It may simply be that termites create suitable soil conditions for the fungus to grow. Another possibility is that the fungus depends in some way on the underground ecosystem that forms around termite colonies. The researchers say more detailed ecological studies will be needed before firm conclusions can be drawn.This fungus also appears to be closely associated with wet soil conditions during the monsoon and post-monsoon periods of Kerala. Moisture reportedly plays a major role in its underground growth. Because these environmental conditions vary from year to year, it is difficult to predict or develop the fungus.
Could rare fungi disappear before science studies them?
The Kerala discovery has also reopened wider concerns about fungal biodiversity in India. Experts say that fungi are one of the least documented groups of organisms, despite their ecological and medicinal importance.Unlike birds, mammals or flowering plants, many fungal species remain hidden underground for most of their life cycles. Some are visible only during short seasonal windows. Others grow in isolated habitats that are increasingly threatened by land-use change, chemical farming, and environmental disruption.Researchers suggest that many rare fungal species are already quietly declining without attracting public attention. Because underground fungi are so difficult to monitor, scientists often realize that species are disappearing only when the habitat has already changed significantly.