Macrofungal Diversity in Khirsu Forest of Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India

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1 216 Research Article Macrofungal Diversity in Khirsu Forest of Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India MP Vishwakarma and RP Bhatt Department of Botany & Microbiology, HNB Garhwal University (A Central University), Srinagar, Garhwal , Uttarakhand, India. mpvishwakarma62@gmail.com Macrofungi are those fungi that form large fructifications visible without the help of a microscope and have easily observable spore-bearing structures. Macrofungi have long been of interest to scientists as well as to public due to their important roles in human life, such as their beneficial and harmful effects on forests, their use in pharmacology and food industry, as well as their vital role in biodegradation (Stojchev et al 1998). Mushrooms are mainly saprophytic, growing on the ground, decaying leaves, bark, wood, manure, while others are to be found in mixed woods or in association with ferns, mosses and lichens. Many of the non-edible mushrooms are used as tonic and have medicinal qualities (Chang and Miles 2004). Besides edible species, some agarics are known to be poisonous. Some of the poisonous forms include the species of Amanita, viz., A. phalloides (Vaill. ex Fr.) Secr., A. virosa Lam. ex Secr., A. verna (Bull. ex Fr.) Pers. ex Vitt.. Among others, Agaricus placomyces Peck., A. xanthodermus Genev. and Chlorophyllum molybdites (Mayer) Massee are poisonous forms. Several workers have studied diversity of mushrooms in India. Among the prominent ones include the contributions made by Sathe and Rahalkar (1975), Sathe et al (1980), Watling and Gregory (1980), Natarajan and Raman (1983), Manjula (1983), Abraham (1991), Atri and Saini (1989), Atri et al (1994), Gupta et al (1994), Lakhanpal (1995), Natarajan (1995), Patil et al (1995), Saini and Atri (1995) Bhatt et al (1995, 1999, 2007a,b), Natarajan et al (2005), Semwal Abstract The Khirsu forest situated 19 km away from the Pauri town of Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand, at an altitude of 1800 to 2200 m is a diverse angiospermic forest, dominated by broad-leaved tree species viz., Quercus leucotrichophora, Rhododendron arboreum, Myrica esculenta, Lyonia ovalifolia and Quercus dilatata. Macrofungi are frequent and abundant in this forest and are distributed in relation to these tree species. The forest receives ample amount of precipitation during monsoon (July-August) and has temperate climate, which makes its environment conducive for the growth of colourful mushrooms. The specimens of macrofungi were collected from Khirsu forest between July 2009 and September In this study 15 species of the mushrooms belonging to 10 families were identified. Of these, nine ( Agaricus silvicola, Amanita hemibapha, Cantharellus cibarius, Coprinus comatus, Lactarius corrugis, L. subindigo, Morchella esculenta, Phylloporus rhodoxanthus and Strobilomyces floccopus) were edible species, two ( Agaricus placomyces and Lactarius yazooensis) non-edible and poisonous forms, while four ( Cantharellus cibarius, C. comatus, G. lucidum and M. esculenta) had medicinal value. Key words: Garhwal Himalaya, diversity, Khirsu forest, macrofungi, medicinal mushrooms Citation: Vishwakarma MP and Bhatt RP Macrofungal diversity in Khirsu forest of Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India. J Mycol Pl Pathol 43(2): et al (2007), Swapna et al (2008), Shukla et al (2009), Mani and Kumaresan (2009), Dar et al (2010), Dehariya et al (2010) and Vishwakarma et al (2011). The Garhwal Himalaya lying between the latitude 29 31'9 N and 31 26'5 N and longitudes '5 E and 80 6'0 E with a total area of 29,089 km is the most frequented and best known part of the Himalaya. Starting from the foothills in the South, it covers all three sections of the Himalaya i.e., outer Siwalik, the lesser Himalaya comprising linear mountain ranges and the Great Himalaya covering about 40,000 2 km of snowfields. The Garhwal Himalaya represents one of the most fascinating and characteristic vegetation of the Indian sub-continent. Marked variations are noticeable both in the quality and quantity of vegetation with respect to the different latitudinal, altitudinal and habitat conditions. Because of its climate, plant distributions and field features in Garhwal Himalaya is very conducive for the growth of macrofungi. Although many studies have addressed the taxonomic diversity of higher plants and cryptogams, there is still paucity of studies on the diversity of macrofungal flora in the temperate region of the Garhwal Himalaya. Keeping in view the aforesaid facts, the present study was undertaken in the Khirsu forest of Garhwal Himalaya region in Uttarakhand to determine the macrofungal diversity and provide important information on the macrofungal flora of Garhwal Himalaya.

2 217 Materials and Methods Survey was conducted in the forest area at Khirsu, Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand during July 2009 to September 2010 and a total of 450 specimens of macrofungi were collected. Standard methods were followed for the collection, preservation and macro- and micro-scopic studies of macrofungi (Atri and Saini 2000; Atri et al 2003). Photographs of the collected specimens were taken using digital Sony DSC S930 camera. The specimens were placed in paper or plastic bags and brought to laboratory. Macroscopic details such as shape, size, colour, colour change on bruising or ageing, taste, odour, spore deposition of the fresh specimens and ecological characteristics of the samples were recorded before preservation. Specimens at different stages of development (buttons and ageing fruiting bodies) were collected by careful digging so as not to damage their bases. A white card or paper slip indicating the place where it is collected was inserted or clipped in each package. Identification was based on the critical observations of the specimens and perusal of relevant literature (Moller 1950, 1952; Moser 1978; Miller 1981; Arora 1986; Singer 1986; Phillips 1991). Collected specimens were then preserved in a liquid preservative (25: 5: 70 ml rectified alcohol + formalin + distilled water) (Hawksworth et al 1995). Parts of the collected materials were dried in a folding portable wooden drier. All the identified and un-identified specimens were deposited in the Herbarium, Department of Botany & Microbiology, HNB Garhwal University, (GUH) Srinagar Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India. Results and Discussion A total of 450 specimens collected were identified into 15 genera belonging to 10 families of macrofungi. These have been described along with their locality, habit and habitat, collector name, collection number and date and their association with higher plants. 1. Agaricus placomyces Peck, N.Y. State Mus. Nat. Hist. 29: Agaricaceae (Fig. 1a) Pileus 5-12 cm broad, convex to broadly convex or nearly flat in age, white, surface covered with appressed, tiny, brown fibrils or scaly tufts of fibrils, sooty brown at centre; margin hung with veil remnants. Lamellae free, crowded, grayish rose becoming purple brown and eventually brown, lamellulae numerous, of 3-4 lengths. Stipe 4-15 cm long and cm diam., centric, thick, more or less equal, or with bulbous base, white to grayish-white, hollow, surface smooth, appearing fibrous, bruising yellow especially at base. Annulus superior, persistent. Taste mild. Odour sometimes smelling phenolic. Spore deposit brown. Basidiospores μm, dark brown, ellipsoid to ovoid. Garhwal, Khirsu. Scattered to gregarious, associated with Quercus leucotrichophora, Rhododendron arboreum, Cupressus torulosa, and scattered Pinus roxburghii trees, 20 August 2009, MPV/ RPB, GUH-M Edibility: Non edible (Phillips 1991). 2. Agaricus silvicola (Vittadini) Sacc., Konard et Maublanc 30lc. Sel. Fung. pl Agaricaceae (Fig. 1b) Pileus 6-12 cm broad, convex at first, becoming broadly convex or plane at maturity, white, sometimes developing yellowish stains, surface dry, smooth or with innate, appressed fibers at maturity, bruising yellow, especially along the margin; margin appendiculate. Lamellae free, close, whitish at first, becoming pinkish to pinkish grey and eventually brown when young covered by whitish or yellowish- stained partial veil, lamellulae numerous, of various lengths. Stipe 5-12 cm long and 1 to 2 cm diam., equal, or with a slightly to substantially and abruptly swollen base, hollow, smooth or with fine fibers below the ring, white, often developing yellowish stain, usually bruising yellow. Annulus superior, skirt like, persistent, white or yellow, with patches on under side that sometimes form a cogwheel pattern. Taste pleasant. Odour sweet faintly anise or almond like when young and fresh. Spore deposit dark brown. Basidiospores μm, elliptical. Garhwal, Khirsu. Solitary to scattered or in small groups in wood, associated with Quercus leucotrichophora, Rhododendron arboreum, Cedrus deodara, Cupressus torulosa with scattered Pinus roxburghii, 15 July 2009, MPV/ RPB, GUH-M Edibility: Edible (Arora 1986; Phillips 1991). 3. Amanita hemibapha (Berk. & Br.) Sacc., Syll. Fung. 5: Amanitaceae (Fig. 1c) Pileus 7-18 cm broad, hemispheric at first, becoming convex, finally aplanate at maturity, tomato red, deep orange at the disc and the margin distinctly more yellow. The striations on the margin extend inward for half the cap radius. Lamellae free, crowded, at first creamy white, pastel yellow to light yellow in mature specimens, lamellulae numerous, 3 lengths. Stipe cm long and 1-2 cm diam., central, tapering upward, connected to the volva only at its very base, yellow, maize yellow to sunflower yellow remnants over the stipe, hollow. Annulus superior, skirt-like, persistent, yellow. Volva saccate, membranous, fleshy, white. Taste mild. Odour leathery to distinct. Spore deposit white. Basidiospores 8-10 (5.4-) μm, ellipsoid to elongate.

3 218 a b c d e f g h Figure 1. (a) Agaricus placomyces (b) A. silvicola (c) Amanita hemibapha (d) Cantharellus cibarius (e) Coprinus comatus (f) C. disseminatus (g) Ganoderma lucidum (h) Helvella crispa

4 219 Garhwal, Khirsu. Solitary to scattered, sometimes gregarious, in mixed wood, associated with Quercus leucotrichophora, Rhododendron arboreum, Myrica esculenta and scattered Pinus roxburghii trees, 22 July 2010, MPV/ RPB, GUH-M Edibility: Edible. 4. Cantharellus cibarius Fr., Syst. Mycol. I: Cantharellaceae (Fig. 1d) Pileus 3-12 cm broad, convex at first with inrolled margin often becoming funnel shaped with a wavy margin, pale yellow to egg-yolk yellow to almost orange, with a few tiny appressed fibers. Lamellae decurrent, close to subdistant, concolorous the pileus. Stipe 3-6 cm long and 1-2 cm diam., thin, more or less equal, solid, smooth concolorous the pileus, sometimes bruising brownish to orangish. Taste not distinctive. Odour fragrant. Spore deposit Pale yellow to creamy white. Basidiospores μm smooth, ellipsoid. Garhwal, Khirsu. Solitary to scattered, sometimes gregarious, in mixed wood, under conifers or associated with Quercus leucotrichophora, Rhododendron arboreum, Myrica esculenta, Cedrus deodara, Cupressus torulosa and scattered Pinus roxburghii, 5 September 2010, MPV/RPB, GUH-M Edibility: Edible (Weber Smith 1985; Arora 1986; Phillips 1991). Young fruiting bodies are recommended (long and slow cooking necessary) for eating. This mushroom is commonly known as the chanterelle or golden chanterelle. It has good antioxidant activity (Vishwakarma et al 2011). 5. Coprinus comatus (Mull. ex Fr.) S.F. Grey, Nat. Arr. Brit. Pl. 1: Coprinaceae ( Fig. 1e) Pileus 4-12 cm broad, cylindric or elongate-ovoid, then elongate campanulate or conical and soon becoming torn or revolute at margin, surface white becoming pinkish towards the margin then blackish, centre smooth and ochraceous cream, buff or pale fulvous at first with shaggy white to pale brownish scales often darkest at tips; margin decurved, inrolled at maturity. Lamellae free, crowded, white then pinkish or vinaceous, finally black, lamellulae numerous, of 3-4 lengths. Stipe 5-15 cm long and cm diam., central, cylindrical, hollow, attenuated upwards from the thickened or bulbous, sometimes rooting base, surface white then pinkish, vinaceous or clay-buff sometimes saffron or pale sienna at base, smooth and shiny but sometimes becoming brownish fibrillose when handled, base white tomentose. Annulus white, movable, sometimes dropping to the base of the stipe. Taste not distinctive. Odour mild. Spore deposit fuscous black. Basidiospores μm, ellipsoid-amygdaliform. Garhwal, Khirsu. Solitary to scattered, sometimes in clusters, lines, or fairy rings on lawns, wood chips, disturbed soil, along roadsides, 11 September 2009, MPV/RPB, GUH-M Edibility: Edible (Purkayastha and Chandra 1985; Arora 1986; and Phillips 1991). Edible when young and fairly good, but sometimes reacting with alcohol in the body to produce a peculiar type of poisoning, vide Arora 1986 and Phillips This fungus is commonly known as shaggy ink cap, lawyer's wig or shaggy mane. Various bioactive functions of C. comatus have been reported in recent years, such as hypoglycemic, consumption of C. comatus can help regulate blood glucose concentrations. It has immunomodulation, hypolipidemic, antitumor and antibacterial effects (Bailey et al 1984; Fan et al 2006). 6. Coprinus disseminatus (Pers. ex Fr.) S.F.Gray, Nat. Arr. Brit. Pl. 1: Coprinaceae (Fig. 1f) Pileus cm broad, ovoid or convex, then expanded convex or campanulate, pale buff or cream-buff then pale to slightly violaceous grey from margin inwards with buff or pale fulvous centre, entirely minutely pubescent and mealy scurfy when young, becoming smooth except for centre of cap and along the sides of the grooves, becoming plicate-striate from margin in, fragile. Lamellae narrowly adnexed, whitish soon grey then pale violaceous umber, finally fuscus black, lamellulae numerous, of 2-3 lengths. Stipe 2-4 cm long and cm diam., equal or slightly thickened downwards, white or pale grey, often hyaline, sometimes tinged vinaceous-buff at base, entirely minutely pubescent when fresh, soon fragile, base white tomentose. Taste mild. Odour not distinctive. Spore deposit date- brown or umber. Basidiospores X 4-5 μm, ellipsoid, amygdaliform in side view, ellipsoid or slightly ovoid in face view Garhwal, Khirsu. Densely gregarious to subcespitose, on old stumps or dead wood or on soil near buried wood, 5 September 2010, MPV/ RPB, GUH-M Edibility: Not known. 7. Ganoderma lucidum (Curtis ex Fries) Karsten, Rev. Mycol. 3(9): Ganodermataceae (Fig. 1g) Pileus 3-28 cm broad, kidney shaped, elongated, more or less fan-shaped at maturity, red to reddish brown when mature, when young often with zones of bright yellow and white toward the margin. Tubes up to 2 cm deep. Pores 0.1 cm, whitish, usually bruising brown. Stipe

5 cm long and cm diam., twisted, cylindrical, smooth, dark red to black with a varnished crust. Taste not observed. Odour indistinctive. Spore deposit brown. Basidiospores 9-12 X 5-8 μm, more or less elliptical, sometimes with a truncated end. Garhwal, Khirsu. Parasitic on living hardwoods (especially oaks), and saprophytic on the dead wood of hardwoods causing a white butt and root rot, growing alone or gregarious usually near the base of the tree; annual, 15 September 2010, MPV/RPB, GUH-M Edibility: Not known. Ganoderma lucidum is the most popular medicinal mushroom of the world. It is also known as Reishi. It has been used for a wide range of health benefits from preventive measures and maintenance of health to the management and treatment of chronic as well as acute human aliments (Rai 1997). Traditionally it has been used widely in the treatment of hepatopathy, chronic hepatitis, nephritis, hypertension, arthritis, insomnia, bronchitis, asthma and gastric ulcer. It is also used by Indian tribals for treating joint pain (Harsh et al 1993). 8. Helvella crispa (Scop.) Fr., Syst. Myc. 2: Helvellaceae (Fig. 1h) Pileus 2-5 cm broad, saddle-shaped or irregularly lobed, smooth or slightly wrinkled, white or, more or less creamy to yellowish, under surface finely hairy; margin often inrolled upwards, and usually not fused with the stem where contact occurs. Stem 3-10 cm long and cm diam., white or slightly pinkish, deeply and ornately ribbed, with cross-veins and pockets. Taste mild. Odour indistinctive. Basidiospores μm, smooth, ellipsoid. Garhwal, Khirsu. Solitary or gregarious under conifers or hardwoods, oftentimes on rotting wood, 28 July 2009, MPV/RPB, GUH-M Edibility: Edible (Purkayastha and Chandra 1985; Arora 1986; Phillips 1991). Sporophores are edible when young. It is consumed in some parts of Garhwal, Uttarakhand. 9. Laccaria amethystina (Huds.) Cooke, Grevillea 12(63): Hydnangiaceae ( Fig. 2a) Pileus 1-4 cm broad, broadly convex to flat, often with a central depression, bright grayish purple, fading to buff, changing color markedly on drying; margin even inrolled sometimes undulate. Lamellae adnate, subdistant to distant or nearly so thick, waxy, dark purple or colored like the cap. Stipe 1-6 cm long and cm diam., equal or slightly swollen at the base, finely to coarsely hairy or scaly, concolorous with pileus. Spore deposit white. Basidiospores μm, globose, rarely subglobose, ornamented with spines μm long and over 1 μm wide at their bases, nonamyloid. Garhwal, Khirsu. Solitary-scattered, or gregarious, mycorrhizal with hardwoods especially oaks, 20 August 2009, MPV/RPB, GUH-M Edibility: Not known. 10. Lactarius corrugis Peck, Ann. Rep. N.Y. State Mus. 32: 31. '1879' (1880). Russulaceae (Fig. 2b) Pileus 5 12 cm broad, convex when young, becoming plane at maturity, sometimes with a shallow depression in the centre, dry, velvety, wrinkled to corrugate overall but especially pronounced over the margin, dark reddish brown; margin inrolled to incurved at first, soon becoming plane, wrinkled. Lamellae sub-decurrent, close to crowded, pale yellow, staining brownish when bruised, brittle, lamellulae present; edges even. Stipe cm long and cm diam., central, cylindrical, equal, throughout or slightly tapering below, solid, dry, glabrous to merely pruinose, concolorous with the pileus. Latex white, copious, staining the context brown on exposure to air. Taste mild. Odour indistinctive. Spore deposit white. Basidiospores μm subglobose to globose, amyloid, ornamentation a complete reticulum, prominences up to 0.7 μm high. Garhwal, Khirsu. Solitary- scattered, more often gregarious, on ground in humicolous soil, under hard woods. Found in association with Myrica esculenta, Quercus leucotrichophora and Rhododendron arboreum, 8 September 2009, MPV/RPB, GUH-M Edibility: Edible and choice, reported to be edible by various workers (Miller 1981; Weber and Smith 1985). This mushroom is consumed in some parts of Garhwal, Uttarakhand. 11. Lactarius subindigo Verbeken and E. Horak, Australian Systematic Botany 13: Russulaceae (Fig. 2c) Pileus 5.5-7cmbroad, at first convex with depressed center, later umbilicate when mature; surface viscid when moist, zonate, medium greenish to medium blue with silvery lustre sometimes medium yellow with age; margin strongly incurved when young, plane when mature. Lamellae decurrent, crowded, lamellulae in several rows, light to medium greenish blue, deep to very deep greenish blue after bruising. Stipe cm long and cm diam., cylindrical or gradually tapered towards base, concolorous with pileus, scrobiculate, hollow. Context brittle, light greenish to light blue. Latex dark to deep greenish blue, unchanging. Taste not observed. Odour indistinctive.

6 221 a b c d f e g Figure 2. (a) Laccaria amethystina ( b) Lactarius corrugis (c) L. subindigo (d) L. yazooensis (e) Strobilomyces floccopus (f) Phylloporus rhodoxanthus (g) Morchella esculenta

7 222 Spore deposit yellowish white. Basidiospores μm, broadly ellipsoid, amyloid, ornamentation up to 0.5 μm high, composed of blunt ridges forming partial to incomplete reticulation, isolated warts abundant. Garhwal, Khirsu. Solitary scattered, common, on humicolous soil, associated with Quercus leucotrichophora in temperate deciduous and mixed coniferous forests, 12 October 2010, MPV/RPB, GUH- M Edibility: Edible. 12. Lactarius yazooensis Hesler & Smith, North American Species of Lactarius: Russulaceae (Fig. 2d) Pileus cm broad, convex-depressed soon becoming broadly infundibuliform, surface viscid, glabrous, zonate, the darker zones orange-ochraceous to rusty orange or dull orange red, gradually becoming paler and more ochraceous in age with cinnamon-buff and paler zones alternating; margin necked inrolled and at first minutely pubescent. Lamellae crowded, moderately broad, finally adnate becoming decurrent, pallid to pale vinaceous- cinnamon at first, passing through vinaceous -cinnamon tones to near fawn color, slowly staining brownish. Stipe cm long and cm diam. and hard, surface dry, equal, whitish to pallid or in age somewhat discolored. Latex white unchanging, exceedingly acrid, copious. Taste very acrid. Odour indistinctive Spore deposit buff yellowish. Basidiospores μm,subglobose to broadly ellipsoid, ornamentation in the form of short sparsely branched ridges and some isolated warts, not at all a reticulum, (almost zebroid in places), prominences (0.5) μm high with a small plage. Garhwal, Khirsu. Solitary - scattered, on humicolous soil in mixed and broad leaved forests associated with Myrica esculenta, Pinus roxburghii, Quercus leucotrichophora and Rhododendron arboreum, 10 September 2010, MPV/ RPB, GUH-M Edibility: Not edible, Phillips Strobilomyces floccopus (Vahl.ex Fr.) Karst, Bidr. Finl. Nat. Folk 37: Boletaceae (Fig. 2e) Pileus 4-10 cm broad, convex to pulvinate, becoming applanate at maturity, surface dry, areolate, coarsely scaly, scales dark brown to grayish black, grayish brown between the scales; margin appediculate with remnants of grayish black, sub membranous to fibrillose partial veil. Context soft, whitish, reddish brown first and finally black on bruising or on exposure. Tubes cm deep, adnate to subdecurrent, slightly depressed around the stipe, grayish white first, dark grayish in age, stain reddish first and finally black when injured, pores angular, large towards the stipe, sublamellate near the stipe, grayish when mature, reddish first and then black on bruising. Stipe 4-10cm long and 1-2 cm diam., equal to slightly tapering upwards, surface rough, grayish black, concolorous with cap, apex striate with longitudinally veins covered by a thick woolly sheath of veil leaving an annular zone, base tomentose, context white, reddish brown to black on bruising. Spore deposit blackish brown. Taste mild. Odour indistinctive. Basidiospores μm, subglobose or broadly ellipsoid, with a distinct apicule, covered by a complete network of lines to form a reticulum. Garhwal, Khirsu. Solitary to scattered in hard woods or mixed forests under the canopy of Quercus leucotrichophora, Rhododendron arboreum, and Pinus roxburghii, 30 August 2010, MPV/ RPB, GUH-M Edibility: Edible (Miller 1981; Purkayastha and Chandra 1985; Arora 1986; Phillips 1991). This bolete is edible but becomes unappetizing as it ages. Only young sporocarps should be used. 14. Phylloporus rhodoxanthus (Schw.) Bres. Fungi Trid. 2: Boletaceae ( Fig. 2f) Pileus 2-10 cm broad, convex becoming broadly convex to more or less flat, dry, fairly smooth, sometimes beginning to crack in age, red to reddish brown, or olive brown to brown, fading; the margin inrolled when young, and with a small projecting sterile portion. Tubes decurrent, distant or nearly so, yellow to golden yellow, bruising blue, thick, sometimes forking, sometimes with cross-veins. Stipe 3-9 cm long and cm diam., more or less equal, or tapering to base, yellowish, with reddish dots and scruffies. Taste mild. Odour not distinctive. Spore deposit yellowish to dirty yellow. Basidiospores μm long-elliptical to sausage-shaped. Garhwal, Khirsu. Solitary to scattered or gregarious, under conifers or in hardwoods Mycorrhizal with hardwoods especially oaks, 29 July 2009, MPV/ RPB, GUH-M Edibility: Edible ( Phillips 1991). 15. Morchella esculenta (L.) Pers. ex Fr., Syst. Myc. 2: Morchellaceae (Fig. 2g) Pileus up to 7 cm long and 5 cm broad at the base, ovate, apex obtuse, pitted; pits up to 1.5 x 1 cm, irregular to rounded, up to 8 mm deep, yellowish within, becoming

8 223 Table 1. Key morphological features of the 15 species of macrofungi identified from Khirsu forest of Garhwal Himalaya Mushroom Species Pileus Lamellae /Tubes Stipe Basidiospores/ Spore deposit Taste Ascospores Agaricus placomyces 5-12 cm broad, convex free, crowded, grayish cm, μm, brown mild to broadly convex or rose becoming purple centric, white to dark brown, ellipsoid nearly flat in age, surface brown and eventually grayish-white, to ovoid. white, covered with brown bruising yellow appressed, tiny, brown especially at base fibrils or scaly tufts of fibrils, sooty brown at centre Agaricus silvicola 6-12 cm broad, convex free, close, whitish at first, cm, μm, dark brown pleasant becoming plane with age, becoming pinkish to equal, sometimes elliptical white, sometimes pinkish grey and eventually wollen at base, developing yellowish brown white, often develstains, bruising yellow, oping yellowish especially along the margin stains, bruising yellow Amanita hemibapha 7-18 cm broad, convex free, crowded, at first cm, 8-10 (5.4-) μm, white becoming applanate with creamy white, pastel central, yellow, ellipsoid to elongate age, tomato red, deep yellow to light yellow in maize yellow to orange at the disc and the mature specimens sunflower yellow margin striated and more yellow Cantharellus cibarius 3-12 cm broad, convex decurrent, close to 3-6 x1-2 cm, equal, μm smooth, pale yellow to not at first with inrolled margin subdistant, concolorous solid, smooth, ellipsoid creamy white distinctive often becoming funnel the pileus concolorous the shaped with a wavy margin, pileus pale yellow to egg-yolk yellow to almost orange Coprinus comatus 4-12 cm broad, cylindric to free, crowded, white then cm, μm, campanulate becoming torn pinkish or vinaceous, central, cylindrical, ellipsoid-amygdaliform fuscous black not or revolute at margin, white finally black white then pinkish, distinctive becoming pinkish towards vinaceous or claythe margin, covered with buff, sometimes shaggy white to pale saffron or pale brownish scales often sienna at base darkest at tips Continued...

9 224 Table 1. Continued... Mushroom Species Pileus Lamellae /Tubes Stipe Basidiospores/ Spore deposit Taste Ascospores Coprinus disseminatus cm broad, ovoid or narrowly adnexed, whitish cm, μm, date- brown or mild convex, campanulate with soon grey then pale white or pale grey, ellipsoid, amygdaliform umber age, pale buff or cream- violaceous umber, finally sometimes tinged in side view, ellipsoid buff becoming pale to fuscus black vinaceous-buff at or slightly ovoid slightly violaceous grey base, base white, from margin inwards with tomentose buff or pale fulvous centre, plicate-striate from margin, fragile Ganoderma lucidum 3-28 cm broad, kidney tubes up to 2 cm deep, pore cm., μm, brown not shaped, elongated, more whitish, bruising brown cylindrical, smooth, more or less observed or less fan-shaped at dark red to black twisted, elliptical, maturity, red to reddish with a varnished sometimes with a brown when mature, when crust truncated end young often with zones of bright yellow and white toward the margin Helvella crispa 2-5 cm broad, saddle cm, mild shaped or irregularly lobed, white or slightly μm, smooth, white or, creamy to pinkish, deeply ellipsoid yellowish, under surface and ornately ribbed, finely hairy, margin often with cross-veins inrolled upwards, and and pockets usually not fused with the stem Laccaria amethystina 1-4 cm broad, broadly adnate, subdistant to distant cm, μm, white not convex to flat, often with a or nearly so thick, waxy, equal or slightly globose, rarely sub- observed central depression, bright dark purple or colored like swollen at the base, globose, ornamented grayish purple, fading to the cap finely to coarsely with spines μm buff, changing color hairy or scaly, long and over 1 μm wide markedly on drying concolorous with at their bases, pileus nonamyloid Continued...

10 225 Table 1. Continued... Mushroom Species Pileus Lamellae /Tubes Stipe Basidiospores/ Spore deposit Taste Ascospores Lactarius corrugis Lactarius subindigo Lactarius yazooensis 5 12 cm broad, convex sub-decurrent, close to μm white mild when young, becoming crowded, pale yellow, cm, central, subglobose to globose, plane at maturity, staining brownish when cylindrical, equal, amyloid, ornamentation sometimes with a shallow bruised, brittle, lamellulae throughout or a complete reticulum, depression in the centre, present; edges even slightly tapering prominences up to 0.7 dry, velvety, wrinkled to below, solid, dry, μm high corrugate, dark reddish glabrous to merely brown pruinose, concolorous with the pileus 5.5-7cmbroad, at first decurrent, crowded, cm, μm, yellowish not convex with depressed lamellulae in several rows, cylindrical or broadly ellipsoid, white observed centre, later umbilicate light to medium greenish gradually tapered amyloid, ornamentation when mature; surface viscid blue, deep to very deep towards base, up to 0.5 μm high, when moist, zonate, medium greenish blue after bruising. concolorous with composed of blunt greenish to medium blue pileus, scrobiculate ridges forming partial with silvery lustre to incomplete reticulasometimes medium yellow tion, isolated warts with age abundant 5-10 cm broad, convex- crowded, moderately broad, cm, μm, buff yellowish very acrid depressed, soon becoming finally adnate becoming and hard, surface subglobose to broadly broadly infundibuliform, decurrent, pallid to pale dry, equal, whitish ellipsoid, ornamentation surface viscid, glabrous, vinaceous- cinnamon at to pallid or in age in the form of short zonate, the darker zones first, passing through somewhat sparsely branched ridges orange-ochraceous to rusty vinaceous -cinnamon tones discolored and some isolated warts, orange or dull orange red, to near fawn color, not at all a reticulum, gradually becoming paler slowly staining brownish (almost zebroid in places), and more ochraceous in age prominences (0.5) with cinnamon-buff and μm high with a small paler zones alternating plage Continued...

11 226 Table 1. Continued... Mushroom Species Pileus Lamellae /Tubes Stipe Basidiospores/ Spore deposit Taste Ascospores Strobilomyces floccopus Phylloporus rhodoxanthus Morchella esculenta 4-10 cm broad, convex to tubes cm deep, cm, μm, blackish mild pulvinate, becoming adnate to subdecurrent, equal to slightly subglobose or broadly brown applanate at maturity, slightly depressed around tapering upwards, ellipsoid, with a distinct surface dry, areolate, the stipe, grayish white surface rough, apicule, covered by a coarsely scaly, scales dark first, dark grayish in age, grayish black, complete network of brown to grayish black, stain reddish first and concolorous with lines to form a reticulum grayish brown between finally black when injured, cap, apex striate the scales pores angular, large with longitudinal towards the stipe, veins covered by a sublamellate near the stipe, thick woolly sheath grayish when mature, of veil leaving an reddish first and then black annular zone, base on bruising tomentose, context white, reddish brown to black on bruising 2-10 cm broad, convex decurrent, distant or nearly cm, μm long- yellowish to mild becoming broadly convex so, yellow to golden more or less equal, elliptical to sausage- dirty yellow to more or less flat, dry, yellow, bruising blue, thick, or tapering to base, shaped fairly smooth, sometimes sometimes forking, yellowish, with beginning to crack in age, sometimes with reddish dots and red to reddish brown, or cross-veins scruffies olive brown to brown, fading up to 7 cm long and 5 cm up to cm, (-26.5) 11- pleasant broad at the base, ovate, sometimes slightly 13.5 (-16) μm. apex obtuse, pitted, pits up swollen at the base, to 1.5 x 1 cm, irregular to whitish to rounded, yellowish within, yellowish, becoming brown to cylindrical, hollow, blackish on drying, ribs irregularly usually irregular rather than lacunose at the longitudinally disposed base but nearly anatomizing, edges obtuse, even above, up to 1.5 mm thick, pubescent concolorous with the interior of pits

12 227 brown to blackish on drying; ribs usually irregular rather than longitudinally disposed, anatomizing; edges obtuse, up to 1.5 mm thick, concolorous with the interior of pits. Stipe up to 8.5 cm long and 3.2 cm diam., sometimes slightly swollen at the base, whitish to yellowish, cylindrical, hollow, irregularly lacunose at the base but nearly even above, pubescent. Asci x μm, 8-spored, cylindrical to subcylindrical, apex obtuse, somewhat abruptly narrowed below. Ascospores (-26.5) (-16) μm. Taste pleasant. Odour indistinctive. Garhwal, Khirsu. Solitary to widely scattered, gregarious or clustered in a variety of habitats (woods, stream sides, old orchards, cultivated or disturbed ground, burned areas, etc.), 29 July 2009, MPV/RPB, GUH-M Edibility: Edible (Miller 1981; Purkayastha and Chandra 1985; Arora 1986; Phillips 1991). Morchella esculenta is an edible morel mushroom, locally known as Guchhi. It is a highly prized morel mushroom in Garhwal Himalaya consumed locally by the people. Commercial cultivation of this mushroom has not been successful till now and hence its mycelium is extensively used as a flavouring agent. In the Himalayas, morels are cooked as food and used in medicine and health care systems by the traditional societies and also used clinically. Negi (2006) discussed the nutritional value and medicinal uses of Morchella spp. from the Darma valley, district Pithoragarh, Kumaun Himalaya, Uttarakhand. The comparative key morphological features of all 15 species are provided in Table 1. Acknowledgment The authors are highly grateful to the Head, Department of Botany & Microbiology, HNB Garhwal University (A Central University), Srinagar, Garhwal for providing necessary laboratory facilities during the course of the study. References Abraham SP Kashmir Fungal Flora - an Overview. In: Indian Mushrooms. M. C. Nair (Ed.). Kerala Agriculture University, Vellanikkara pp. Arora D Mushroom Demystified: A Comprehensive guide to the fleshy fungi. Ten Speed Press, Berkeley. 959 pp. Atri NS and Saini SS Family Russulaceae Rozea review, In: Plant Science Research in India, Present Status and Future Challenges. ML Trivedi, BS Gill and SS Saini (Eds.), New Delhi pp. Atri NS and Saini SS Collection and Study of Agarics - An Introduction. Indian J Mush 18: 1-5. Atri NS, Kaur A and Saini SS Wild mushrooms - collection and identification. Mushroom Res 14: Atri NS, Saini MK and Saini SS Indian Russulaceae Roze - A checklist. In: Current Researches in Plant Science. TA Sharma, SS Saini, ML Trivedi and M Sharma (Eds.) Dehradun. pp Bailey CJ, Turner SL, Jakeman KJ and Hayes WA Effect of Coprinus comatus on plasma glucose concentrations in mice. Planta Medica 50: Bhatt RP, Bhatt VK and Gaur RD Fleshy fungi of Garhwal Himalaya: The genus Russula. Ind Phytopath 48: Bhatt RP, Semwal KC and Upadhyay RC. 2007a. New records of section Phalloideae of the genus Amanita from Garhwal Himalaya, India. Mush Res 16: Bhatt RP, Sharma P and Semwal KC. 2007b. New records of Russula from Garhwal Himalaya. Mush Res 16: Bhatt VK, Bhatt RP, Gaur RD and Singh MP Mushrooms of Garhwal Himalaya: the genus Amanita Pers. ex Hooker. Mush Res 8:1-8. Change ST and Miles PG Mushrooms - Cultivation, National Value, Medicinal effect and Environmental impact. Second edition. CRC Press. pp 2-4. Dar GH, Ganai NA, Beig MA, Abanagar FA and Sofi TA Biodiversity of macrofungi from conifer dominated forests of Kashmir, India. J Mycol Pl Pathol 40: Dehariya P, Chaubey A, Wagay JA and Vyas D Wild Mushrooms of Patharia forest of Sagar. J Mycol Pl Pathol 40: Fan JM, Zhang JS, Tang QJ, Liu YF, Zhang AQ, and Pan YJ Structural elucidation of a neutral fucogalactan from the mycelium of Coprinus comatus. Carbohydrate Res 341: Gupta AK, Saini SS and Atri NS The genus Agaricus L: Fr. in India A review. In: Current Research in Plant Sciences. TA Sharma, SS Saini, ML Trivedi and M Sharma (Eds.) Bishen Singh, Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehradun, India. pp Harsh NSK, Rai BK and Tiwari DP Use of Ganoderma lucidum in folk medicine. J Tropl Biodiver 1: Hawksworth DL, Krik PM, Sutton BC and Pegler DN Ainsworth and Bisby's Dictionary of the Fungi. Int. Mycol. Inst. CAB, International, London, 616 pp.

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