Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol. 17 (2), April 2018, pp 327-335 Ethnomycological knowledge of three indigenous communities of Assam, India Nepolion Borah, RL Semwal & SC Garkoti* School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi-110067, India E-mail: [email protected] Received 9 May 2017, revised 18 December 2017 The paper presents the ethnomycological knowledge related to identification of wild edible mushrooms of three indigenous communities, viz. Karbis, Biates and Khelmas inhabiting the South western part of Dima Hasao district of the Indian state of Assam. Across the communities, a total of 92 knowledge holders were identified through chain referrals method. Semi- directive interview and group discussion methods were employed for documentation of their knowledge. The key features of the knowledge of the studied communities were overwhelmingly identical as all of them used criteria like morphological characters, aroma, and habitat for identifying edible mushrooms. A total of 19 species of wild edible mushrooms were observed to be collected by them. Though mushroom poisoning was rare among the communities; they take certain precautions and remedies which were again broadly more or less common. To avoid poisoning, Karbis never cooked epiphytic and terrestrial mushrooms together. In case of poisoning, they used fresh or dried fruits of any of the species, viz. Garcinia lanceaefolia, Gracinia sp, Hibiscus sabdariffa and Antidesma sp as home remedy. The rich ethnomycological knowledge not only helping these communities overcome food and nutraceutical deficiencies but also contributing in income generation. Keywords: Indigenous community, Traditional knowledge, Mushrooms, Mushroom poisoning, Folk taxonomy, Karbi, Biate and Khelma tribes IPC Int. Cl.8: A61K 36/06, A01G 18/00, D05B 91/08 Wild mushrooms are one of the important natural Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, sources of food and income for many indigenous Sikkim and Tripura and is part of one of the 34 global communities across the world1-4. Edible mushrooms biodiversity hotspots10. Dima Hasao district in the state have nutritive values containing high amount of of Assam is socially, culturally and ecologically proteins (e.g. Lactarius hatsudak, Lentinula edodes), important area of the NEHR, inhabited by indigenous dietary fiber (e.g. Lactarius volemus, Craterellus Karbi, Biate and Khelma communities known for their cornucopioides), vitamins (e.g. Cortinarius rufo- unique cultural practices. Practicing shifting agriculture olivaceus, Collybia albuminosa) and minerals locally called as Jhum is the core economic activity of (e.g. Clitocybe maxima, Catathelasma ventricosum)5. these communities. During rainy season (May-September) These also exhibit antioxidative (e.g. Hygrophoropsis for meeting nutraceutical needs and sometimes to earn aurantiaca, Hypholoma capnoides, Laccaria amethystina), livelihood they collect a range of wild edibles mushrooms. antitumour and hypercholesterolic properties (e.g. Clitocybe Though few studies related to wild edible maxima, Catathelasma ventricosum) 6-7. Mushrooms mushrooms have been carried out from different parts grow in a wide variety of habitats, but most of them of the NEHR2, 11-16, comprehensive studies are lacking grow on dead and decaying organic materials8. All wild on indigenous knowledge employed for identification, mushrooms growing in similar habitats and climatic utilization, addressing poisoning, mechanism of conditions are not necessarily edible as some of them transfer of knowledge and market potential of wild may be poisonous and at times fatal9. However, using mushrooms. Present study reports ethnomycological their ethnomycological knowledge indigenous communities knowledge of the abovementioned communities have been collecting and consuming wild mushrooms inhabiting the south-western part of Dima Hasao since time immemorial1. district of Assam. The study would not only help in The North Eastern Himalayan Region (NEHR) of preserving and protecting the fast eroding traditional India covers eight states, viz. Arunachal Pradesh, knowledge base but may also contribute in augmenting —————— sustainable livelihood and neutraceutical security of *Corresponding author the studied communities. 328 INDIAN J TRADIT KNOWLE, VOL. 17, NO. 2, APRIL 2018 Methodology executive members of the traditional institutions (Mei of Karbis; Kalim Kabur Dan of Biates; Halam of Study area Khelma), church committees and local NGOs. Thus, The study was carried out in the South western part 37 knowledge holders (25 men and 12 women) were (Umrangso sub-division) of the Dima Hasao district identified from Sikilangso, 29 (23 men and 06 women) of Assam. After a detailed reconnaissance, three from Thingdol, and 26 (16 men and 10 women) from representative villages, viz. Sikilangso, Thingdol and Bangphiri village for information collection. Information Bangphiri inhabited predominantly by Karbi, Biate and related to wild edible mushrooms was collected Khelma communities, respectively, were selected from identified resource persons through semi-directive (Fig. 1). The altitude of the villages ranged from interviews and focused group discussions19 in two 700 m to over 900 m. The total population of the growing seasons (May – October) in 2016 and 2017. villages was 354, 505 and 183, respectively. Tropical During the data collection, specimens were photographed moist deciduous and sub-tropical pine forests were the and collected for further identification. Identification dominant vegetation of the study area which had a sub of the specimens was done based on their tropical humid climate17. The monsoon season starts in morphological characteristics after comparing with mid May and ceases in September with an average standard manual for mushroom identification8,20, annual rainfall of 1700 mm while the minimum and mycokeys available at www.mushroomexpert.com21 maximum temperatures during the period varied from and verified by mycologist at Gauhati University, 23 °C to 32 °C18. Assam. The plant specimens were identified with the 22 Data collection help of Flora of Assam and verified by taxonomist at Prior Informed Consent (PIC) requirements were Dibrugarh University, Assam. Specimens have been secured through the Assam State Biodiversity Board. preserved at the School of Environmental Sciences, A total of 92 knowledge holders (comprising 64 men Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. and 28 women) were identified from across all the three 19 Results and discussion villages/communities following “Chain Referrals” method with the help of headmen of the villages, Wild edible mushrooms A total of 19 species of wild edible mushrooms locally identified with different names by the studied communities belonged 13 genera and 13 families were recorded during the study. Of the 19 species, 13 species were terrestrial and others were epiphytic (Table 1). All the recorded species were considered as edible by the Karbis but only 11 and 12 by Biates and Khelmas, respectively, despite having similar traditional identification criteria. Mushroom species such as Agaricus spp, Boletus sp, Clavulina sp, and Termitomyces sp were not collected by the Biates and Khelmas. Among these, while Amanita chepangiana Tulloss & Bhandary, Amanita hemibapha Berk. & Broome were edible for the Khelmas but not for the Biates and Cantharellus cibarius Schwein was not considered edible by the Khelmas but by Biates. The Karbis of the study area have recently learned collection of Clavulina sp from the ethnic communities of Meghalaya. The growing season of most of the mushroom species (viz., Amanita chepangiana Tulloss & Fig. 1 — Location of the study area (S-Skilangso village, Bhandary, Amanita hemibapha Berk. & Broome, B-Bangphiri village and T-Thingdol village inhibited, respectively, by Karbis, Khelmas and Biates) in Dima Hasao District, Auricularia polytricha (Montagne) Saccardo, Boletus Assam, India sp, Cantharellus cibarius Schwein, Cantharellus sp, BORAH et al.: ETHNOMYCOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE OF INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES OF ASSAM, INDIA 329 Table 1 — Wild edible mushroom species, their habitat and growing season collected by Karbis (K), Khelmas (Kh) and Biates (B) in Dima Hasao district of Assam, India Sl. No Species Habitat Collection Collecting period community 1 Agaricus semotus Fries.; Family: Agaricaceae; Terrestrial Sept-Oct K Local name: Mu-Kang-aer (K) 2 Agaricus sp; Family: Agaricaceae; Terrestrial Sept-Oct K Local name: Mu-Kang-aer-the (K) 3 Amanita chepangiana Tulloss & Bhandary; Family: Terrestrial June-Sept K, Kh Amanitaceae; Local name: Mu-voti (K), Partoi (Kh) 4 Amanita hemibapha Berk. & Broome; Family: Amanitaceae; Terrestrial June-Sept K, Kh Local name: Mu-voti (K) Partoi (Kh) 5 Auricularia polytricha (Mont.) Sacc.; Family: Auriculariaceae; Epiphytic June-Aug K, Kh, B Local name: Muplakplak (K), Pa-ibak (Kh, B) 6 Boletus sp; Family: Boletaceae; Local name: Mu-Virik (K) Terrestrial June-Sept K 7 Cantharellus cibarius Fries.; Family: Cantharellaceae; Local name: Terrestrial June-Sept K, B Mu-et (K), Pa fit (B) 8 Cantharellus sp ; Family: Cantharellaceae; Local name: Musai (K), Epiphytic June-Sept K, Kh, B Pajong nakur (Kh, B) 9 Clavulina sp; Family: Clavulinaceae; Local name: Fuju-Akong-Simi (K) Terrestrial June-Sept K 10 Lactifluus corrugis (Peck) Kuntze; Family: Russulaceae; Terrestrial June-Sept K, Kh, B Local name: Muk-mog-lang (K), Rupsen (Kh, B) 11 Lentinus sp; Family: Polyporaceae; Local name: Muchopan (K) Terrestrial June-Sept K