13 Specimens were collected from Davodxett, Cotto, Bhat and Nirmalanagar wards of Quepem town from the month of July to October. Majority of the specimens are from Lyophyllaceae family. The following specimens were collected: Omphalina grossula, Termitomyces clypeatus, Ganoderma tsugae, Polyporus arcularius, Pleurotus ostreatus, Termitomyces sp., Tremella fucuformis, Armillaria sp., Termitomyces heimii, Daldinia concentrica, Daedaleopsis confragosa, Lentinellus cochleatus and Ganoderma boninense.

Omphalina grossula

Specimen No. 1

Date of Collection: July 06, 2019                           

Location: On Coconut husk

Ward: Davodxett

Village: Xeldem

Taluka: Quepem

Name of the substrate: Cocos nucifera husk

Nutritional mode: Saprotrophic

Total number of fruit bodies seen: 3

                                  Fig.1 Habitat of Omphalina grossula

Macromorphological description: They are small agarics with white decurrent gills. Typically the cap has a deep central depression giving the umbrella like to funnel-shaped cap appearance of a belly button.

Identification:

Family: Hygrophoraceae

Genus: Omphalina

Species: Omphalina grossula

Authority: Omphalina grossula (Pers.) Singer, Persoonia 2(1): 29 (1961)

Citation: Index of Fungi 3: 156

Ecological importance: Helps in decomposing wood

Edibility: Inedible

Medicinal: No

Record: Known

Cultivability: No

Termitomyces clypeatus

Specimen No: 2

Date of Collection: July 06, 2019                          

Location: Found growing in soil

Ward: Cotto

Village: Amona

Taluka: Quepem

Name of the substrate: Soil

Nutritional mode: Saprotrophic

Total number of fruit bodies seen: 3

                                     Fig.2: Habitat of Termitomyces clypeatus

Macromorphological description: Medium sized fleshy agaric with greyish brown cap, strongly spiniform umbo, whitish gills and long stipe with pseudorhiza, odour pleasant, taste excellent, edible. Pileus 6.5cm diameter and stipe up to 7 cm, central, cylindrical and  slightly swollen near the soil surface. Annulus absent.

Identification:

Family: Lyophyllaceae

Genus: Termitomyces

Species: Termitomyces clypeatus

Authority: Termitomyces clypeatus R. Heim, Bull. Jard. bot. État Brux. 21: 207 (1951)

Citation: Index of Fungi 2: 89

Local Name: Khunt olmi

Ecological importance: There is a symbiotic relationship between termites and Termitomyces fungi, which allows the termite to digest cellulose-rich food sources.

Edibilty: Edible

Medicinal: Yes. Termitomyces clypeatus is used in the treatment of the pox. The fruit body is pasted and applied to the affected area.

Record: Known

Cultivability: No

         

  

Ganoderma tsugae

Specimen No: 3

Date of Collection: October 14, 2019

Location: On coconut bark

Ward: Cotto

Village: Amona

Taluka: Quepem

Name of the substrate: Bark of Cocos nucifera

Nutritional mode: Saprotrophic or parasitic

Total number of fruit bodies seen: 2

                                        

                             Fig. 3: Habitat of Ganoderma tsugae  

Macromorphological description: It is a flat polypore mushroom of the genus Ganoderma. Whitish when fresh; fairly soft when young, but soon tougher. 4 cm; at first irregularly knobby or elongated, but by maturity more or less fan- or kidney-shaped; with a shiny, varnished surface often roughly arranged into lumpy "zones"; bald; dark red to orangish red or reddish brown when mature; when young often with zones of bright yellow and white toward the margin.

Identification:

Family: Ganodermataceae

Genus: Ganoderma

Species: Ganoderma tsugae

Authority: Ganoderma tsugae Murrill, Bull. Torrey bot. Club 29: 601 (1902)

Citation: Saccardo's Syll. fung. XVII: 123

Local Name: Hemlock varnish shelf

Economic importance: They are used in traditional Asian medicines, and potential in bioremediation.

Edibility: Non-poisonous but generally considered inedible, because of its solid woody nature; however, teas and extracts made from its fruiting bodies allow medicinal use of the compounds it contains.

Medicinal: Yes, used for dressing a skin wound. Shows several potential medicinal benefits including anti-tumor activity through some of the active polysaccharides found in G. tsugae

Record: Known

Cultivability: Yes

                            

  

Polyporus arcularius

Specimen No: 4

Date of Collection: August 03, 2019

Location: On tree trunk

Ward: Cotto

Village: Amona

Taluka: Quepem

Name of the substrate: Bark of the tree

Nutritional mode: Saprobic

Total number of fruit bodies seen: 186

  

                                       Fig. 4: Habitat of Polyporus arcularius

Macromorphological description: It is fairly small, and has a central stem, along with whitish, angular pores. The most distinctive feature of Polyporus arcularius, however, is its delicately fringed, finely hairy cap margin. The cap colour ranges from vey dark brown to pale tan.

Identification:

Family: Polyporaceae

Genus: Polyporus

Species: Polyporus arcularius

Authority: Polyporus arcularius Lázaro Ibiza

Citation: Saccardo's Syll. fung. XXIII: 369

Local Name: Spring polypore

Ecological importance: The saprophytic polypores are active agents of wood decomposition.

Ediblility: Edible but essentially unpalatable due to tough flesh.

Medicinal: Yes, It has anti-bacterial and anti-tumour properties

Record: Known

Cultivability: No

                            

  

Pleurotus ostreatus

Specimen No: 5

Date of Collection:

Location: On the coconut bark

Ward: Cotto

Village: Amona

Taluka: Quepem

Name of the substrate: Bark of Cocos nucifera

Nutritional mode: Saprotrophic

Total number of fruit bodies seen: 8

                                  Fig.5: Habitat of Pleurotus ostreatus

Macromorphological description: Broad fan shaped cap spanning 3-5cms, white in colour, smooth margin, gills white to creamish, stipe absent.

Identification:

Family: Pleurotaceae

Genus: Pleurotus

Species: Pleurotus ostreatus

Authority: Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.) P. Kumm., Führ. Pilzk. (Zerbst): 104 (1871)

Citation: Saccardo's Syll. fung. V: 355; XII: 586; XIV: 90; XVI: 36; XXIII: 113; XX: 455, 1289

Local Name: Pearl oyster mushroom

Economic importance: Used for the production of cosmetics.

Ecological importance: They actually benefit the forest by decomposing the dead wood, returning vital elements and minerals to the ecosystem in a form usable to other plants and organisms.

Ediblility: Edible

Medicinal: Yes. The Oyster Mushroom has statins and lovastatins that help in lowering cholesterol in the body.

Record: Known

Cultivability: Yes

  

Termitomyces sps.

Specimen No: 6

Date of Collection: August 03, 2019

Location: On termite hill

Ward: Cotto

Town: Amona

Taluka: Quepem

Name of the substrate: Termite mound

Nutritional mode: Saprotrophic

Total number of fruit bodies seen: 3

                                      Fig.6: Habitat of Termitomyces sp.

Macromorphological description: A pronounced or distinct umbo (or papilla) is one of the important diagnostic features of Termitomyces. Similarly, the presence or absence of pseudorhizae in Termitomyces also constitutes a distinguishing feature. The length of the hidden pseudorhizae varies from zero to more than a metre, and varies in shape (cylindrical, unevenly widening and narrowing in certain sections). The colour of the pseudorhizae contrasts sharply with the stipe (white to light brown vs. buffy brown to dark brown). Pseudorhizae in Termitomycetes are either solid (or stuffed) or hollow.

Identification:

Family: Lyophyllaceae

Genus: Termitomyces

Authority: Termitomyces R. Heim, Mém. Acad., Sci., Paris 44: 72 (1941)

Citation: Index of Fungi 1: 139

Local Name: Roen olmi

Ecological importance: There is a symbiotic relationship between termites and Termitomyces fungi, which allows the termite to digest cellulose-rich food sources.

Ediblility: Yes.

Tonak receipe

Ingredients:

 1 ½ cups freshly grated coconut

1 onion chopped, lengthwise

6 cloves garlic

1-2 onions, chopped fine

200 grams of mushroom, chopped

A small ball of tamarind

Oil

Salt

Haldi/turmeric

A few springs of coriander

For the masala:

1 tsp coriander seeds

¼ tsp jeera

¼ tsp bedishep

½ tsp khus khus

3-4 red chillies

1 inch piece of cinnamon

4 cloves

4-5 black pepper

1 petal of star aniseed/dagad phool

A small piece of jaiphal/ nutmeg

Method:

1. In a tsp of oil fry the red chillies, keep aside. Fry the other ingredients for the masala individually add oil if necessary. Keep aside.

2. In the same pan fry the coconut, onion chopped lengthwise and garlic, on low flame till the coconut is reddish brown in colour, use oil if needed. Cool.

3. Grind to a fine paste the fried masala and coconut mixture with the tamarind and coriander.

4. In another pan with another tsp or two of oil fry the onions till soft then add the chopped mushrooms. Cook the mushrooms till done adding water if needed.

5. Add the ground masala paste, turmeric, salt.

    Serve hot.

Medicinal: Yes. The Bioactive components that Termitomyces mushrooms contain have potential uses as antioxidants, immunomodulators, antitumors, and antimicrobials. Termitomyces also has a potential for treating neurodegenerative disorders.

Record: Known

Cultivability: No

Tremella fuciformis

Specimen No:7

Date of Collection: August 03,2019

Location: On twig

Ward: Cotto

Town: Amona

Taluka: Quepem

Name of the substrate: Twig

Nutritional mode: Parasitic

Total number of fruit bodies seen: 3

                                 Fig. 7: Habitat of Tremella fuciformis

Macromorphological description: It is a parasitic yeast, and grows as a slimy, mucous-like film until it encounters its preferred hosts. Fruit bodies are gelatinous, watery white, up to 7.5 cm (3.0 in) across ,and composed of thin but erect, seaweed-like, branching fronds, often crisped at the edges.

Identification:

Family: Tremellaceae

Genus: Tremella

Species: Tremella fuciformes

Authority: Tremella fuciformis Berk., Hooker's J. Bot. Kew Gard. Misc. 8: 277 (1856)

Citation: Saccardo's Syll. fung. VI: 782; XII: 791; XX: 974; XXI: 455

Local Name: White jelly mushroom

Economic importance: Used in cosmetics.

Ediblility: Edible

Medicinal: Yes. It helps fight tumor growth, retards ageing, strengthen bones and beneficial for skin.

Record: Known

Cultivability: Yes

  

Armillaria sp.

Specimen No:8

Date of Collection: August 05, 2019

Location: At the base of coconut tree

Ward: Nirmalanagar

Village: Xeldem

Taluka: Quepem

Name of the substrate: Basal part of Cocos nucifera

Nutritional mode: Parasitic

Total number of fruit bodies seen: 30

                                          Fig.8: Habitat of Armillaria sp.

Macromorphological description: The basidiocarp of the fungus is a mushroom that grows on wood, typically in small dense clumps or tufts. Their caps are typically yellow-brown, somewhat sticky to touch when moist, and, depending on age, may range in shape from conical to convex to depressed in the center. 

Identification:

Family: Physalacriaceae

Genus: Armillaria

Authority: Armillaria (Fr.) Staude, Schwämme Mitteldeutschl. 28: xxviii, 130 (1857)

Citation: Staude, F. 1857. Die Schwämme Mitteldeutschlands, in besondere des Herzogthums. :1-150

Ecological importance: Helps in decomposing wood

Ediblility: Edible but mildly poisonous if eaten raw

Medicinal: Yes. Armillaridin (AM) is an aromatic ester compound isolated from honey medicinal mushroom, Armillaria mellea, which has anti-cancer potential.

Record: Known

Cultivability: Yes

Termitomyces heimii

Specimen No: 9

Date of Collection: August 13, 2019

Location: In soil

Ward: Nirmalanagar

Village: Xeldem

Taluka: Quepem

Name of the substrate: Soil

Nutritional mode: Saprotrophic

Total number of fruit bodies seen: 3

                               Fig.9: Termitomyces heimii in Lab

Macromorphological description: Large fleshy agaric with whitish cap, broad greyish brown umbo, pale pinkish gills and long stipe with annulus and pseudorhiza. Pileus diameter 5-12.5cm, convex to plano-convex with broad, elevated umbo, smooth, silky, fibrillose and viscid or slimy when moist. Lamellae at first white, becoming pale-pink with age, free, broad, crowded; stipe 7-13.2cm, central, cylindrical, long and fairly thick base with long, hollow pseudorhiza tapering downwards; whitish, stuffed and smooth. Annulus white, thick and persistent.

Identification:

Family: Lyophyllaceae

Genus: Termitomyces

Species: Termitomyes heimii

Authority: Termitomyces heimii Natarajan, Mycologia 71(4): 853 (1979)

Citation: Index of Fungi 4: 639

Economic importance: It is highly priced wild edible mushroom.

Ecological importance: The mutualistic association between termites and Termitomyces is of great ecological and socio- economic importance. These fungi are cultivated by termites on combs constructed from faecal material within their nest. The termites provide highly regulated growth environment for the fungi, while fungi provide food for the termite.

Ediblility: Yes

Mushroom Xacuti

Ingredients:

For the Xacuti Masala:

·       White Sesame Seeds – 1.5 tbsp

·       Unsweetened Dry Coconut – 1/4 cup

·       Coriander Seeds – 1 tbsp

·       Red Chili – 6

·       Cloves – 6

·       Cardamom – 6

·       Cinnamon – 3-inch stick

·       Black Stone Flower | Dagad Phool  – 2

·       Mace Flower – 2

·       Fennel Seeds – 1 tsp

·       Mustard Seeds – 1/2 tsp

For the Xacuti Gravy:

·       Coconut Oil – 2 tsp

·       Cumin Seeds – 1 tsp

·       Chopped Onion – 1/2 cup

·       Chopped Tomato – 1 cup

·       Ginger Garlic Paste – 1/2 tsp

·       Xacuti Masala – 2 tbsp

·       Termitomyces heimii Mushrooms

·       Sugar – 1/2 tbsp

·       Tamarind Paste – 1 tsp

·       Water – 1/2 cup

·       Chopped Cilantro – 2 tbsps

·       Salt – 1.5 tsps heaped

Preparing the Xacuti Masala:

·       Dry roast all the ingredients given under “For the Xacuti Masala” until the sesame seeds pop. (Four to Five minutes) Ensure you dry roast over low heat.

• Allow it cool and grind it coarsely. Add little water.
• Store this masala in an air-tight container refrigerate it. We only need 2 tbsp of the masala for this recipe.

Prep – Work for the Gravy:

·       Chop all the veggies including onion, tomato, and cilantro.

·       Dilute the tamarind paste in 1/2 cup of water and set aside.

·       Clean the mushrooms and cut them into halves.

Gravy Preparation:

·       Heat a pan and add the coconut oil.

·       When the oil is hot, add the cumin seeds.

As they start to splutter, add the onions and ginger garlic paste and cook until they turn translucent.

Then add the chopped tomatoes, mushrooms and salt. Cook until the mushrooms are soft and tender.

·       Now add the sugar, xacuti masala and tamarind water.

·       Let it simmer for 5 minutes.

• Finally, add the chopped cilantro and mix.

You can serve this with pav buns, rice or roti.

Record: Known

Cultivability: No

Daldinia concentrica

Specimen No: 10

Date of Collection: August 18, 2019

Location: On wooden logs

Ward: Cotto

Village: Amona

Taluka: Quepem

Name of the substrate: Dead wood

Nutritional mode: Saprotrophic

Total number of fruit bodies seen: 5

                               Fig.10: Habitat of Daldinia concentrica

Macromorphological description: The fungus is ball shaped with shiny brownish-black body about 2-8cms.

Identification:

Family: Hypoxylaceae

Genus: Daldinia

Species: Daldinia concentrica

Authority: Daldinia concentric (Bolton) Ces. & De Not., Comm. Soc. crittog. Ital.1 (fasc.4): 197 (1863)

Citation: Saccardo’s Syll. Fung. I: 393; XIX: 542; XII: 172 

Local Name: King Alfred’s cake

Economic and ecological importance: Moths and Catterpillars feed on these fungi.

Edibility: Inedible

Medicinal: No

Record: Known

Cultivability: No

Daedaleopsis confragosa

Specimen No:11

Date of Collection: October 14, 2019

Location: On decaying wood

Ward: Davodxett

Village: Xeldem

Taluka: Quepem

Name of the substrate: On decaying wood

Nutritional mode: Saprobic

Total number of fruit bodies seen: 6

                                Fig. 11: Habitat of Daedaleopsis confragosa

Macromorphological description: The fruit bodies are semicircular and tough, have a concentrically zoned brownish upper surface, and measure up to 12cm in diameter.

Identification:

Family: Polyporaceae

Genus: Daedaleopsis

Species: Daedaleopsis confragosa

Authority: Daedaleopsis confragosa f. confragosa (Bolton) J. Schröt., in Cohn, Krypt.-Fl. Schlesien (Breslau) 3.1(25–32): 492 (1888) [1889]

Citation: Schröter, J. 1888. Kryptogamen-Flora von Schlesien. 3-1(4):385-512

Local Name: Blushing bracket

Ecological importance: It is a lignicolous fungus that produces a decay of sapwood. It causes white rot, a type of wood decay in which lignin is degraded and cellulose remains as a light-colored residue.

Ediblility: Inedible

Medicinal: Yes. Used as antioxidant.

Record: Known

Cultivability: Yes

  

Lentinellus cochleatus

Specimen No:12

Date of Collection: October 14, 2019

Location: At the base of coconut tree

Village: Bhat

Taluka: Quepem

Name of the substrate: Cocos nucifera

Nutritional mode: Saprotrophic

Total number of fruit bodies seen: 30

                              Fig.12 Habitat of Lentinellus cochleatus

Macromorphological description: The cap is creamy-yellow or as dark as chestnut brown, 3-10cm in diameter, funnel shaped cap with a split down one side and the stipe offset from centre. Mostly found in clusters.

Identification:

Family: Auriscalpiaceae

Genus: Lentinellus

Species: Lentinellus cochleatus

Authority: Lentinellus cochleatus var. cochleatus (Pers.) P. Karst., Bidr. Känn. Finl. Nat. Folk 32: 247 (1879)

Citation: Karsten, P.A. 1879. Rysslands, Finlands och den Skandinaviska halföns Hattsvampar. Förra Delen: Skifsvampar. Bidrag till Kännedom av Finlands Natur och Folk. 32:1-571

Local Name: Aniseed Cockleshell

Ecological importance: It helps in degradation of wood.

Ediblility: Edible. Lentinellus cochleatus is an edible mushroom that can be prepared, cooked and stored, even when dry, only if very young. It is possible to use it in combination with other mushrooms. It is advisable not to collect mature specimens, as they are coriaceous.

Medicinal: Yes. Antibacterial/fungicidal/molluscicidal activity

Record: Known

Cultivability: Yes

  

Ganoderma boninense

Specimen No:13

Date of Collection: October 14, 2019

Location: On the bark of the tree

Ward: Bhat

Taluka: Quepem

Name of the substrate: Bark of Artocarpus heterophyllus

Nutritional mode: Saprophytic

Total number of fruit bodies seen: 3

                                    Fig.13: Habitat of Ganoderma boninense   

Macromorphological description: It is a plant pathogen that causes basal stem rot. It is 5-9cm in diameter.

Identification:

Family: Ganodermataceae

Genus: Ganoderma   

Species: Ganoderma boninense  

Authority: Ganoderma boninense Pat., Bull. Soc. mycol. Fr. 5(2,3): 72 (1889)

Citation: Patouillard, N.T. 1889. Le genre Ganoderma. Bulletin de la Société Mycologique de France. 5:64-80

Ecological importance: Ganoderma species are white rot fungi and have ecological importance in the breakdown of woody plants for nutrient mobilization.

Ediblility: Edible

Medicinal: Yes. They have highly prized medicinal value, since they contain many chemical constituents with potential nutritional and therapeutic values.

Record: Known

Cultivability: Yes