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International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms, 18(5): 387–396 (2016) Diversity of Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms Used in the Noun Division of the West Region of Cameroon André Ledoux Njouonkou,1,* Eske De Crop,2 Abdoulayi Mbouombouo Mbenmoun,3 Tonjock Rosemary Kinge,1 Elvire Hortense Biyé,3 & Annemieke Verbeken2 1Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Bamenda, Bambili, Cameroon; 2Mycology Research Group, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; 3Department of Plant Biology, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon *Address all correspondence to: André Ledoux Njouonkou, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Bamenda, Bambili, Cameroon; [email protected] ABSTRACT: This article presents discussions of mushrooms as a source of food, income, as well as medicine among the Bamoun people of the highlands of West Cameroon, where the vegetation is mainly savannah mixed with forest galleries. Like most tribes in tropical Africa, the Bamoun people use a wide range of natural products as mushrooms. This study attempts to identify the various mushrooms exploited by the Bamoun. Ethnomycological surveys and field trips were conducted over 4 years in several villages in the Noun Division. Samples of wild mushrooms were collected from both the savannah and the forest galleries. These were described, preserved, and identified. The study shows that the Bamoun people use at least 40 species of mushrooms for either food or medicine. These species belong to 8 genera: Auricularia, Cantharellus, Ganoderma, Pleurotus, Lactarius, Lactifluus, Russula, and Termitomyces. Species of genera Lactarius, Lactifluus, Russula, and Termitomyces are most often used for food, whereas Ganoderma spp. and Pleurotus tuber-regium are mainly exploited for medicinal purposes. This survey provides an overview of the diversity of mushrooms and their importance to the local people of this area. Since some of the species mentioned by the local population were not fruiting at the time of our field trips, additional investigations are needed to further clarify the diversity and the usage of mushrooms in this region. KEY WORDS: medicinal and edible mushrooms, Bamoun people, Central Africa, ethnomycology, utilization, non- timber forest products ABBREVIATION: NTFP, nontimber forest product I. INTRODUCTION East, and West Africa has shown that there is a great diversity of edible and medicinal mushrooms.8–12 Natural resources in developing countries, especially Cameroon is referred to as “Africa in miniature” in tropical regions, play an important socioeconomic because of its highly diverse human population, and ecological role in the lives of the people, particu- topography, vegetation, ecosystems, and flora, with larly in local communities. Among these resources 7850 species of vascular plants documented.13 While are wild mushrooms, which are a valuable non- using the ratio of 6 species of fungi for 1 species timber forest product (NTFP) used all over the world, of vascular plant, the number of fungal species in though it is underestimated or neglected in Africa.1,2 Cameroon can be estimated at about 50,000 species, Mushrooms are used as food, medicine, and income- of which only 1,050 are known.14,15 In addition to the generating sources through trading, as well as for limited information on the fungal diversity in tropical spiritual or ritual purposes.3–7 regions, very little is known about their ethnomyco- In tropical regions, particularly tropical Africa, logical importance. knowledge of the diversity and uses of fungi is Cameroon comprises more than 250 tribes or eth- scanty; however, some research done in Central, nic groups, each with specific cultural knowledge, 1521-9437/16/$35.00 © 2016 Begell House, Inc. www.begellhouse.com 387 388 Njouonkou et al. uses, and behaviors related to various groups of is evidence that the edible and medicinal proper- living organisms, such as fungi. Despite this large ties of mushroom have long been exploited by the number of tribes in Cameroon, ethnomycological ancient Bamoun. knowledge is still insufficiently documented within Considering that the ethnomycological knowl- the various tribes. Nevertheless, authors such as Van edge of various tribes could serve as a tool to assess Dijk et al.16 investigated the knowledge and utiliza- the fungal diversity in a country, this work is a con- tion of edible mushrooms by the Bantu and Bagyeli tribution to the documentation of the medicinal and (pigmy) populations of the rain forest in the South edible mushroom diversity in Cameroon, particu- Region of Cameroon and found that more than 35 larly of the Bamoun people. species of mushrooms were used as food. Yongabi et al.17 and Kinge et al.18 reported the use of 22 and 15 II. MATERIALS AND METHODS species of edible and medicinal mushrooms, respec- tively, in the Northwest and Southwest Regions, This study was conducted in the Noun Division respectively. Moreover, Douanla-Meli19 mentioned (Fig. 1), located in the West Region of Cameroon. It the use of some mushrooms as food or medicine comprises plateaus, plains, and mountains between around the Mbalmayo Reserve Forest in the Center 1200 and 1600 m. The vegetation is mostly savan- Region, whereas Mossebo et al.20 revealed the com- nah, with bands of forest galleries rich in Uapaca mon uses of Termitomyces species in the Center and guineensis Müll. Arg., the main ectomycorrhizal West Regions. host tree. This vegetation is progressively being The vegetation of the West Region of Cameroon altered by the building of new dwellings, intensive is mostly savannah with numerous gallery forests agriculture, and grazing. A typical tropical climate along rivers and streams. The populations have occurs in this region, with two main seasons: a dry settled in several traditional kingdoms with a rich season from November to March, with an average and diversified cultural patrimony that is unique in temperature of 30–35°C, and a rainy season that the world. Most of the populations of this region use extends from March to November, with an average mushrooms as part of their diet or in their traditional temperature of 27–28°C. The average annual rain- medicine and have developed a wild mushroom fall is about 2054 mm/year. In 2008 the population trade at their local markets or alongside mains roads. of Noun Division was estimated at approximately However, knowledge of the taxonomic diversity of 800,000 inhabitants, with an average density of 104 wild mushrooms used in this region has remained inhabitants/km². The Noun society, mainly made unpublished. up of the Bamoun people (approximately 88% of The Bamoun Kingdom, created in 1394 by the population), depends principally on agriculture, King Nchare Yen, covers the land corresponding which occupies 60% to 70% of its working popula- to the administrative division of the Noun.21 The tion and contributes to more than 60% of its wealth. Bamoun are mostly known for their rich culture This ethnomycological study was initiated in and by the works of one of its famous kings, Njoya 2009, but the fieldwork began in 2011 and was (1860–1933), who, among others, drew the map of carried out until 2014. The investigations were his kingdom without the help of settlers and devel- based on the identification of mushrooms sold in oped a writing named “shümom,” in which several local markets, on ethnomycological surveys using books were written, such as Libonar konfen (Book questionnaires, and on field trips with the participa- of medicines) on the medicinal plants of the Bamoun tion of the local population. To observe the sale of people.21,22 In his notes on medicinal plants of the mushrooms in the markets, 2 local, popular periodic kingdom, King Njoya mentioned some mushroom markets, Foumban and Koutaba, were visited several species used in traditional medicine. Moreover, times during the study period. Each of these markets we observed that mushrooms are still generally also receives habitants of surrounding villages who evoked in some popular expressions. Hence, there come to sell and buy manufactured, agricultural, and International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms Used in West Cameroon 389 FIG. 1: Situation of the studied region of Cameroon in Africa. natural products. The natural products were mostly issues such as the local identification system and the NTFPs used for food and traditional medicine. In names of mushrooms used by the population, their each market, data such as the vernacular names of fructification period, and the habitat in which they species, the place and habitat of their collection, grow. For a good spelling of local names in the local their uses, and other relevant information related language, a dictaphone was used to register species to the wild mushrooms were acquired from sellers. names and other information. The phonetic spellings Based on the information obtained at both mar- (in parentheses after the local species names in Table kets, 16 villages including Foumban (Fig. 1) were 1) are based on the general alphabet of Cameroonian selected for further ethnomycological surveying and languages.23 field trips to collect mushrooms specimens. To substantiate the information on known mush- More than 150 persons, both males and females room species and their uses, as well as their ecology, of different ages (8–85 years) participated in the sur- field trips were undertaken with the participation vey, sharing their knowledge of various mushrooms. of village guides. Various samples of mushrooms Initial established questions were addressed by were photographed and collected in the savannah interviewing volunteers individually, but to confirm and forest galleries using opportunistic sampling the information obtained, the same questionnaire methods.24 After each field trip, freshly collected was also used during structural group discussions in samples were presented to the village elders for most of these villages. The questionnaire dealt with identification or confirmation of local names and Volume 18, Issue 5, 2016 390 Njouonkou et al.

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