In a collection of fossils, scientists at the Natural History Museum in the UK have discovered a fungus that attacked other organisms more than four hundred million years ago, making it the oldest fungus of its kind ever discovered. According to a publication in Nature Communications, the new pathogenic fungus was named Potteromyces asteroxylicola in honor of Beatrix Potter – the author of “The Tale of Peter Rabbit”, who was also an amateur mycologist.
Although naming an ancient predatory fungus after her may not seem very complimentary, Potter’s contributions to the study and documentation of various species of fungi have been increasingly recognized in recent years. It is noted that she made beautiful illustrations of wild fungi and examined their structure under the microscope, continuing to be an enthusiast for her work, although the contributions of women to Victorian science were hardly recognized.
It is now recognized that Potter’s work was ahead of its time. That is why the fact that an important species is named after her is a fitting tribute to her work and commitment to unlocking the secrets of fungi.
