Biodiversity of mushrooms in Patharia forest of Sagar (M.P.)-III

Patharia forest is situated on Vindhyan ranges at about 457.2-533.4 m above msl. It is mixed and dry deciduous type, dominated by Acacia species, Butea monosperma, Tectona grandis and ground flora consisting of Biophytum sensitivum, Cassia tora, Cynodon dactylon, Euphorbia geniculata, Heteropogon contortus, Lantana camara, Parthenium hysterophorus, etc. During the period of July 2011-July 2013, wild mushrooms were collected from the Patharia forest and 18 mushroom species belonging to 12 families were identified viz. Vascellum pratense, Lycoperdon pyriform, Coniophora puteana, Clitocybe geotrapa, Ganoderma tsugae, Microglossum virde, Panaeolus sphinctrinus, Pleurotus cornucopiae, Fomes fomentarius,, Tyromyces lacteus, Lenzites Betulina, Hypholoma elongatum, Pholiota highlandensis, Serpula lacrymans, Tremella mesenterica, Lepista nuda, Collybia butyracea and Omphalina ericetorum. Among them some are edible like L. nuda and Clitopilus prunulus which are used for culinary purposes; some are medicinal like G. tsugae, T. mesentrica M. viride which are used to prepare indigenous medicines using traditional techniques.