Every mushroom season there are reports of rural folks falling sick and, in some cases, even dying of mushroom poisoning. This article attempts to create awareness about some edible wild mushroom found in certain areas of Meghalaya.
Mushrooms are macro-fungi with outstanding fruiting bodies that can be hypogeous or epigeous, large enough to be seen with the naked eye, and can be picked by hand (Chang S T & Miles 1992). Macrofungi such as Mushrooms serve as an important dietary food in many countries (Gbolagade J, 2006). According to Hawksworth (2012) at present there are approximately 3 million fungi of which only 140,000 species produce fruiting bodies of sufficient size and suitable structure to be considered as mushrooms.
Mushrooms are not only prized for their splendid tasteful flavour, they also serve as a good healthy supplement. In addition to proteins, sugar, glycogen, lipid, vitamins, amino acid, and curd fiber, mushrooms possess some essential mineral nutrients which are considered key factors for the normal functioning of the body (Gbolagade J, Ajayi A, Oku I, Wankasi D 2006) (Kalac P 2009). Mushroom is a general term used mainly for the fruiting body of the macrofungi (Ascomycota & Basidiomycota) and represents only a short reproductive stage in their life cycle (Kanad Das 2010).
They are immensely diverse in terms of morphology, host preference, fruiting period, etc. Whenever rains arrive, mushrooms appear soon after, flourishing in suitable habitats (Kanad Das 2014).
Mushroom is an environmentally friendly forest product because it can be harvested without harming the environment or to the ecosystem where it is found. Mushroom collection is also another source of livelihood for rural and urban folks engaged in this activity. Since mushrooms occur in a particular season it is a seasonal activity for the practitioners. More importantly, since this activity is also commonly practiced by women it is also therefore an activity that helps women earn seasonal livelihoods.
Although the Pnars of Meghalaya have since time immemorial been consuming varieties of wild edibles which include many varieties of mushrooms, no proper study has been done on this subject.
There have been several cases of people dying after consuming poisonous mushrooms, hence it is very important to understand the traditional knowledge associated with identifying edible mushrooms from the poisonous ones. The local mushroom collectors have inherited this knowledge from their ancestors. Although only a few of the 70-80 species of poisonous mushrooms are fatal when ingested, many of these deadly fungi bear an unfortunate resemblance to edible species and are thus especially dangerous (Melissa Pertruzzello Encyclopaedia Britannica).
Mushrooms are unique and delicate plants and the weather, climatic condition, and altitude of the area have a major influence on the life and growth of mushrooms. Therefore to understand the factors that influence the growth of mushrooms, there is a need to include the study of the weather, climatic conditions, and altitude of the areas in one chapter of the project. This chapter includes information about the topography of the area from where the samples were collected.
The altitude of the area from where the samples were collected is between 1125 meters above sea level to 1350 meters.
Rainfall distribution in the study areas varies between 3320.50 mm and 3745.60 mm. Regarding temperature, mushrooms grow at a temperature between a Maximum of 30.76° C and a Minimum of 15.45° C. It also grows when the humidity level is between 2011 Morning – 1907.34 Evening – 864.48. For a mushroom to grow all the above factors need to be in a proper proportion and at the right time.
The study revealed that the area is rich with wild edible mushrooms which are found in abundance in the area. Wild edible mushrooms are a source of nutrients for the local people in the area. Besides, the collection and sale of mushrooms is an income-generation activity for the locals.
A total of 13 species of wild edible mushrooms were documented during the study period and these are some of the wild edible mushrooms found in the study areas in the West Jaintia Hills district. Tit khliehsoo (Russularosea), Tit soo (Scleroderma citrinum), Tit jwat (Favolusspatulatus), Tit tadong (Gomphusfloccosus), Tit doh/Tit tung (Lactariusvolemu)s, Tit kjetsyiar (ClauvlinaCristata), Tit kjetsyiar (Ramariastricta), Tit kjetsyiar (Ramaria species), Tit stem (Carterellusoderatus), Tit kjethati (Tricholomaviridiolivaceum), Tit stem (Carterellusoderatus), Tit Khangaipylleng (Cantharelluscibarius), Tit phlang (Termitomycesheimii), and Tit eitlen (Lactariusdeliciosus).
The Jaintias consume mushrooms either by frying them with little oil or cooking the mushrooms along with grounded sesame seeds. Tit ymbu (breast-like) Mushroom is another popular wild edible mushroom. It is called Tit-kymbu because it resembles a human breast but it is also known as Tit-soo (red mushroom) perhaps because of its red colour. Tip-ymbu is similar to commercially cultured button mushrooms but is slightly bigger and longer than button mushrooms. It grows underneath pine trees between July and August. It can be found almost everywhere in Jaintia hills.
Tit-kjet syiar (chicken-leg like mushroom) like Tit-kymbu, Tit-kjet syiar also grows underneath pine trees plantation. Tit-kjet syiar also grows at the same time of the year which is July end and the beginning of August every year. Tit-kjet syiar looks like a tree with branches without leaves and it is whitish in colour. It also looks like an uprooted plant upside down.
Tit-dong chkor chrieh (literarily means monkey-ear-edge like mushroom) and is named so because it looks like a rolling monkey’s ear. It grows below or on the floor of Sase (local name) tree and it can also be found almost everywhere in Jaintia hills. Tit-Khleiñ syiar is called so because it resembles chicken fat collected inside the body of the chicken and it grows in the pine trees yard.
The ability to distinguish edible from non-edible wild mushrooms was handed over from one generation to another by way of observation and oral tradition. How can one differentiate a toxic mushroom from a non-toxic one; one elder said that they look for signs from animals, particularly cows. If cows eat a particular mushroom then the conclusion is that the same mushroom is also fit for human consumption.
Unfortunately due to the gradual shrinking of forest cover in the Jaintia Hills district, during interaction; the mushroom collectors complained about the diminishing quantity of mushrooms collected during one trip when compared with similar trips taken in the previous year. The first forest that was affected by deforestation is one which is closest to human settlements; hence as time goes collectors have to go to the forests which are further away from the village to collect mushrooms. Since forests closer to the villages are gradually disappearing, the collectors, unlike in the past have to walk long distances to be able to collect mushrooms.
Generally, mushroom collection is the job of women and a mushroom collection trip will include females, children, youths, and adults. There is a general decline in the quantity of mushrooms collected on a normal collection trip and this is true of all the different varieties of mushrooms. Sometimes boys accompany their parents and siblings on mushroom collection trips.
Cow herders also collect mushrooms when they take their cows for feeding in the forest. But unlike the women folk, the cow herders collect mushrooms mostly for their consumption.
Consuming wild mushrooms is part of the culture of the tribal people in Jaintia Hills and people have traditional knowledge of distinguishing edible from non-edible mushrooms. With time people have now gradually lost the traditional knowledge of distinguishing edible from poisonous mushrooms, which is why there are several reports of food poisoning from consuming toxic mushrooms. However, this is not a complete list of wild edible mushrooms consumed by the people in the area also because the different varieties of wild edible mushrooms also grow during different period; the study might have also missed some of the mushroom varieties which grows during other parts of the year.
Wild mushrooms are seasonal plants and generally mushroom grows only two times a year in the Khasi Jaintia Hills. ea, the two seasons the mushroom grows are spring and autumn. It may be mentioned that a study can even be conducted on the poisonous mushrooms found in the area because its toxic properties can also have some medicinal value.
(Melanie Passah has a Master’s degree in Ecology, Environment and Sustainable Development from TISS and she is currently working with Foundation of Ecological Security as Assistant Project Manager)
