In August, scientists are exploring the fungal diversity in the alpine Dryas heath of Norway's mountains, with the potential to uncover species unknown to science. The survey is being led by Tor Erik Brandrud from the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) and Thomas Holm Carlsen from NIBIO, who are working in Láhko National Park. This park is home to Northern Europe’s largest marble plateau and extensive Dryas heath, a unique alpine landscape. Brandrud, a renowned mycologist with over 50 years of research experience, has already identified more than 120 fungal species in the area, some of which may be new to Norway. Carlsen, with over two decades of experience in species and habitat surveys, has previously discovered new fungal species in the region. The researchers stress the urgency of documenting these species, as many fungi in the mountains have close relationships with plants. For example, the Dryas milkcap (Lactarius dryadophilus) forms a mycorrhizal relationship with mountain avens (Dryas octopetala), a plant that is now classified as Near Threatened in Norway. Brandrud describes the mountain avens as "miniature trees" that grow slowly in the cracks of the marble, creating a small ecosystem for fungi. These ancient plants and their associated fungi may be as old as the plants themselves. However, climate change is causing the tree line to rise and open alpine areas to become overgrown, threatening the survival of these unique ecosystems. Lactarius dryadophilus is currently listed as Least Concern, but Brandrud expects this status to change when the Norwegian Red List is updated in 2027. He is a member of the committee assessing the extinction risk of fungi in Norway. Carlsen highlights the importance of detailed study to understand ecosystems fully, including the roles of individual species. However, he warns that ecosystems are becoming increasingly unbalanced, leading to a rapid loss of biodiversity. A wet summer in northern Norway has created ideal conditions for fungi to produce their fruiting bodies, or the visible, spore-producing parts of the mushroom. Carlsen explains that while fungi are sensitive to weather, they benefit from rain. However, sunlight poses a challenge, as even a single sunny day can dry out tiny fungi that barely rise above the ground. The researchers look for young fruiting bodies that have not yet dried out, as some species are nearly indistinguishable. They carefully dig through soil and sand with fingernails and knives to collect the entire fungus, as the stem base often holds crucial identification details. The researchers have discovered a wide variety of fungi, including fiber caps (Inocybe), webcaps (Cortinarius), brittlegills (Russula), milkcaps (Lactarius), pinkgills (Entoloma), cup fungi (Pezizomycetes), toadstools (Amanita), and even champignons (Agaricus). This diversity is much greater than most people realize when walking through these open landscapes. The most intriguing finds are sent to Hungary or Canada for DNA sequencing to determine if they represent new species. Carlsen mentions an exciting coral fungus (Clavulina) that may be new to Norway and a parasol mushroom (Lepiota) that might be new to Northern Europe. They have nicknamed this potential new species the "mountain avens parasol," as it is currently only known from the French and Italian Alps. The researchers may have to wait up to a year for the final DNA results.