This study provides a comprehensive analysis of boletoid fleshy pored fungi across the elevational zones of Uttarakhand Himalaya, India, from 2007 to 2023. The study encompasses 167 collections representing 24 genera and 46 species, including lamellate members. Key genera include Aureoboletus, Austroboletus, Boletellus, Boletus, Borofutus, Cyanoboletus, Gyrodon, Gyroporus, Hemileccinum, Hortiboletus, Indoporus, Lanmaoa, lamellate boletoid members, Leccinellum, Leccinum, Phylloporus, Porphyrellus, Pulveroboletus, Rugiboletus, Strobilomyces, Suillus, Sutorius, Tylopilus, Xerocomellus, and Xerocomus. The paper includes field photographs, staining reactions on bruising of pores and sliced context, spore prints, microscopic images, and commentary on species determination, aiding readers in understanding the rich species diversity of boletoid mushrooms in Uttarakhand Himalaya. The compiled information serves as a baseline for aspiring researchers, guiding them to explore new localities for novel species of boletoid fleshy pored fungi. Recommendations for future research include extensive fungal forays, classical taxonomy, and advanced molecular studies, given the widespread occurrence of these mushrooms across before the Uttarakhand Himalaya's forest types.

The present paper provides a distributional list of representative species of the Boletoid mushrooms in the Uttarakhand Himalaya. A literature survey revealed twenty-five taxa from the state, among these six, belong to the genus Suillus, four to Leccinum, three each to Boletus and Tylopilus, two each to Phylloporus, Pulveroboletus, Strobilomyces, and one each to Austroboletus and Xerocomus. Field photographs for some taxa are also provided herein for a better understanding of Boletoid mushrooms appearance and ecology.

Amanita pseudorufobrunnescens is described as a new species in the subgenus Amanitina section Amidella of family Amanitaceae from north-western Himalaya, India. Distinct morphological characters, odour and molecular phylogenetic analysis based on the large subunit of nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrLSU) data revealed that the present species differs from other members of sect. Amidella. This species is characterised by its whitish basidiomata that turn brownish orange with age, its whitish to cinnamon brown, floccose to radially fibrillose universal veil remnants on the pileus, its close lamellae becoming brownish orange on exposure, its elongate basidiospores and its association with Quercus oblongata (syn. Q. leucotrichophora). A detailed morphological description, line drawings, colour photographs and Maximum Likelihood (ML) phylogenetic placement of the new species are provided.

Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Australia , Austroboletus asper on soil, Cylindromonium alloxyli on leaves of Alloxylon pinnatum, Davidhawksworthia quintiniae on leaves of Quintinia sieberi, Exophiala prostantherae on leaves of Prostanthera sp., Lactifluus lactiglaucus on soil, Linteromyces quintiniae (incl. Linteromyces gen. nov.) on leaves of Quintinia sieberi , Lophotrichus medusoides from stem tissue of Citrus garrawayi , Mycena pulchra on soil, Neocalonectria tristaniopsidis (incl. Neocalonectria gen. nov.)and Xyladictyochaeta tristaniopsidis on leaves of Tristaniopsis collina, Parasarocladium tasmanniae on leaves of Tasmannia insipida , Phytophthora aquae-cooljarloo from pond water, Serendipita whamiae as endophyte from roots of Eriochilus cucullatus , Veloboletus limbatus (incl. Veloboletus gen. nov.)onsoil. Austria , Cortinarius glaucoelotus onsoil. Bulgaria , Suhomyces rilaensis from the gut of Bolitophagus interruptus found on a Polyporus sp. Canada , Cantharellus betularum among leaf litter of Betula , Penicillium saanichii from house dust. Chile , Circinella lampensis on soil, Exophiala embothrii from rhizosphere of Embothrium coccineum . China, Colletotrichum cycadis on leaves of Cycas revoluta . Croatia , Phialocephala melitaea on fallen branch of Pinus halepensis . Czech Republic , Geoglossum jirinae on soil, Pyrenochaetopsis rajhradensis from dead wood of Buxus sempervirens. Dominican Republic , Amanita domingensis on litter of deciduous wood, Melanoleuca dominicana on forest litter. France , Crinipellis nigrolamellata (Martinique) on leaves of Pisonia fragrans , Talaromyces pulveris from bore dust of Xestobium rufovillosum infesting floorboards. French Guiana , Hypoxylon hepaticolor on dead corticated branch. Great Britain , Inocybe ionolepis on soil. India , Cortinarius indopurpurascens among leaf litter of Quercus leucotrichophora . Iran , Pseudopyricularia javanii on infected leaves of Cyperus sp., Xenomonodictys iranica (incl. Xenomonodictys gen. nov.) on wood of Fagus orientalis . Italy , Penicillium vallebormidaense from compost. Namibia , Alternaria mirabibensis on plant litter, Curvularia moringae and Moringomyces phantasmae (incl. Moringomyces gen. nov.) on leaves and flowers of Moringa ovalifolia, Gobabebomyces vachelliae (incl. Gobabebomyces gen. nov.) on leaves of Vachellia erioloba, Preussia procaviae on dung of Procavia capensis . Pakistan , Russula shawarensis from soil on forest floor. Russia , Cyberlindnera dauci from Daucus carota . South Africa , Acremonium behniae on leaves of Behnia reticulata, Dothiora aloidendri and Hantamomyces aloidendri (incl. Hantamomyces gen. nov.) on leaves of Aloidendron dichotomum , Endoconidioma euphorbiae on leaves of Euphorbia mauritanica , Eucasphaeria proteae on leaves of Protea neriifolia , Exophiala mali from inner fruit tissue of Malus sp., Graminopassalora geissorhizae on leaves of Geissorhiza splendidissima , Neocamarosporium leipoldtiae on leaves of Leipoldtia schultzii , Neocladosporium osteospermi on leaf spots of Osteospermum moniliferum , Neometulocladosporiella seifertii on leaves of Combretum caffrum , Paramyrothecium pituitipietianum on stems of Grielum humifusum , Phytopythium paucipapillatum from roots of Vitis sp., Stemphylium carpobroti and Verrucocladosporium carpobroti on leaves of Carpobrotus quadrifolius , Suttonomyces cephalophylli on leaves of Cephalophyllum pilansii . Sweden , Coprinopsis rubra on cow dung, Elaphomyces nemoreus fromdeciduouswoodlands. Spain , Polyscytalum pini-canariensis on needles of Pinus canariensis , Pseudosubramaniomyces septatus from stream sediment, Tuber lusitanicum on soil under Quercus suber . Thailand , Tolypocladium flavonigrum on Elaphomyces sp. USA , Chaetothyrina spondiadis on fruits of Spondias mombin, Gymnascella minnisii from bat guano, Juncomyces patwiniorum on culms of Juncus effusus , Moelleriella puertoricoensis on scale insect, Neodothiora populina (incl. Neodothiora gen. nov.) on stem cankers of Populus tremuloides , Pseudogymnoascus palmeri fromcavesediment. Vietnam , Cyphellophora vietnamensis on leaf litter, Tylopilus subotsuensis on soil in montane evergreen broadleaf forest. Morphological and culture characteristics are supported by DNA barcodes.

Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Antarctica, Cladosporium arenosum from marine sediment sand. Argentina, Kosmimatamyces alatophylus (incl. Kosmimatamyces gen. nov.) from soil. Australia, Aspergillus banksianus, Aspergillus kumbius, Aspergillus luteorubrus, Aspergillus malvicolor and Aspergillus nanangensis from soil, Erysiphe medicaginis from leaves of Medicago polymorpha, Hymenotorrendiella communis on leaf litter of Eucalyptus bicostata, Lactifluus albopicri and Lactifluus austropiperatus on soil, Macalpinomyces collinsiae on Eriachne benthamii, Marasmius vagus on soil, Microdochium dawsoniorum from leaves of Sporobolus natalensis, Neopestalotiopsis nebuloides from leaves of Sporobolus elongatus, Pestalotiopsis etonensis from leaves of Sporobolus jacquemontii, Phytophthora personensis from soil associated with dying Grevillea mccutcheonii. Brazil, Aspergillus oxumiae from soil, Calvatia baixaverdensis on soil, Geastrum calycicoriaceum on leaf litter, Greeneria kielmeyerae on leaf spots of Kielmeyera coriacea. Chile, Phytophthora aysenensis on collar rot and stem of Aristotelia chilensis. Croatia, Mollisia gibbospora on fallen branch of Fagus sylvatica. Czech Republic, Neosetophoma hnaniceana from Buxus sempervirens. Ecuador, Exophiala frigidotolerans from soil. Estonia, Elaphomyces bucholtzii in soil. France, Venturia paralias from leaves of Euphorbia paralias. India, Cortinarius balteatoindicus and Cortinarius ulkhagarhiensis on leaf litter. Indonesia, Hymenotorrendiella indonesiana on Eucalyptus urophylla leaf litter. Italy, Penicillium taurinense from indoor chestnut mill. Malaysia, Hemileucoglossum kelabitense on soil, Satchmopsis pini on dead needles of Pinus tecunumanii. Poland, Lecanicillium praecognitum on insects' frass. Portugal, Neodevriesia aestuarina from saline water. Republic of Korea, Gongronella namwonensis from freshwater. Russia, Candida pellucida from Exomias pellucidus, Heterocephalacria septentrionalis as endophyte from Cladonia rangiferina, Vishniacozyma phoenicis from dates fruit, Volvariella paludosa from swamp. Slovenia, Mallocybe crassivelata on soil. South Africa, Beltraniella podocarpi, Hamatocanthoscypha podocarpi, Coleophoma podocarpi and Nothoseiridium podocarpi (incl. Nothoseiridium gen. nov.) from leaves of Podocarpus latifolius, Gyrothrix encephalarti from leaves of Encephalartos sp., Paraphyton cutaneum from skin of human patient, Phacidiella alsophilae from leaves of Alsophila capensis, and Satchmopsis metrosideri on leaf litter of Metrosideros excelsa. Spain, Cladophialophora cabanerensis from soil, Cortinarius paezii on soil, Cylindrium magnoliae from leaves of Magnolia grandiflora, Trichophoma cylindrospora (incl. Trichophoma gen. nov.) from plant debris, Tuber alcaracense in calcareus soil, Tuber buendiae in calcareus soil. Thailand, Annulohypoxylon spougei on corticated wood, Poaceascoma filiforme from leaves of unknown Poaceae. UK, Dendrostoma luteum on branch lesions of Castanea sativa, Ypsilina buttingtonensis from heartwood of Quercus sp. Ukraine, Myrmecridium phragmiticola from leaves of Phragmites australis. USA, Absidia pararepens from air, Juncomyces californiensis (incl. Juncomyces gen. nov.) from leaves of Juncus effusus, Montagnula cylindrospora from a human skin sample, Muriphila oklahomaensis (incl. Muriphila gen. nov.) on outside wall of alcohol distillery, Neofabraea eucalyptorum from leaves of Eucalyptus macrandra, Diabolocovidia claustri (incl. Diabolocovidia gen. nov. ) from leaves of Serenoa repens, Paecilomyces penicilliformis from air, Pseudopezicula betulae from leaves of leaf spots of Populus tremuloides. Vietnam, Diaporthe durionigena on branches of Durio zibethinus and Roridomyces pseudoirritans on rotten wood. Morphological and culture characteristics are supported by DNA barcodes.

This is the twelfth contribution to the Fungal Diversity Notes series on fungal taxonomy, based on materials collected from many countries which were examined and described using the methods of morphology, anatomy, and strain culture, combined with DNA sequence analyses. 110 taxa are described and illustrated, including five new genera, 92 new species, eight new combinations and other taxonomic contributions (one new sequenced species, one new host and three new records) which are accommodated in 40 families and 1 incertae sedis in Dothideomycetes. The new genera are Amyloceraceomyces , Catenuliconidia , Hansenopezia , Ionopezia and Magnopulchromyces . The new species are Amyloceraceomyces angustisporus , Amylocorticium ellipsosporum , Arthrinium sorghi , Catenuliconidia uniseptata , Clavulina sphaeropedunculata , Colletotrichum parthenocissicola , Coniothyrium triseptatum , Cortinarius indorusseus , C. paurigarhwalensis , C. sinensis , C. subsanguineus , C. xiaojinensis , Diaporthe pimpinellae , Dictyosporella guizhouensis , Diplodia torilicola , Fuscoporia marquesiana , F. semiarida , Hansenopezia decora , Helicoarctatus thailandicus , Hirsutella hongheensis , Humidicutis brunneovinacea , Lentaria gossypina , L. variabilis , Lycoperdon lahorense , L. pseudocurtisii , Magnopulchromyces scorpiophorus , Moelleriella gracilispora , Neodevriesia manglicola , Neodidymelliopsis salvia , N. urticae , Neoroussoella magnoliae , Neottiella gigaspora , Ophiosphaerella chiangraiensis , Phaeotremella yunnanensis , Podosphaera yulii , Rigidoporus juniperinus , Rhodofomitopsis pseudofeei , Russula benghalensis , Scleroramularia vermispora , Scytinopogon minisporus , Sporormurispora paulsenii , Thaxteriellopsis obliqus , Tomentella asiae-orientalis , T. atrobadia , T. atrocastanea , T. aureomarginata , T. brevis , T. brunneoflava , T. brunneogrisea , T. capitatocystidiata , T. changbaiensis , T. citrinocystidiata , T. coffeae , T. conclusa , T. cystidiata , T. dimidiata , T. duplexa , T. efibulata , T. efibulis , T. farinosa , T. flavidobadia , T. fuscocrustosa , T. fuscofarinosa , T. fuscogranulosa , T. fuscopelliculosa , T. globospora , T. gloeocystidiata , T. griseocastanea , T. griseofusca , T. griseomarginata , T. inconspicua, T. incrustata , T. interrupta , T. liaoningensis , T. longiaculeifera , T. longiechinuli , T. megaspora , T. olivacea , T. olivaceobrunnea , T. pallidobrunnea , T. pallidomarginata , T. parvispora , T. pertenuis , T. qingyuanensis , T. segregata , T. separata , T. stipitata , T. storea , Trichoderma ceratophylletum , Tyromyces minutulus , Umbelopsis heterosporus and Xylolentia reniformis . The new combinations are Antrodiella descendena , Chloridium macrocladum , Hansenopezia retrocurvata , Rhodofomitopsis monomitica , Rh. oleracea , Fuscoporia licnoides , F. scruposa and Ionopezia gerardii . A new sequenced species ( Graphis supracola ), one new host ( Aplosporella prunicola ) and three new geographical records ( Golovinomyces monardae , Paradictyoarthrinium diffractum and Prosthemium betulinum ), are reported.

Thirteen new species are formally described: Cortinarius brunneocarpus from Pakistan, C. lilacinoarmillatus from India, Curvularia khuzestanica on Atriplex lentiformis from Iran, Gloeocantharellus neoechinosporus from China, Laboulbenia bernaliana on species of Apenes, Apristus, and Philophuga (Coleoptera, Carabidae) from Nicaragua and Panama, L. oioveliicola on Oiovelia machadoi (Hemiptera, Veliidae) from Brazil, L. termiticola on Macrotermes subhyalinus (Blattodea, Termitidae) from the DR Congo, Pluteus cutefractus from Slovenia, Rhizoglomus variabile from Peru, Russula phloginea from China, Stagonosporopsis flacciduvarum on Vitis vinifera from Italy, Strobilomyces huangshanensis from China, Uromyces klotzschianus on Rumex dentatus subsp. klotzschianus from Pakistan. The following new records are reported: Alternaria calendulae on Calendula officinalis from India; A. tenuissima on apple and quince fruits from Iran; Candelariella oleaginescens from Turkey; Didymella americana and D. calidophila on Vitis vinifera from Italy; Lasiodiplodia theobromae causing tip blight of Dianella tasmanica 'variegata' from India; Marasmiellus subpruinosus from Madeira, Portugal, new for Macaronesia and Africa; Mycena albidolilacea, M. tenuispinosa, and M. xantholeuca from Russia; Neonectria neomacrospora on Madhuca longifolia from India; Nothophoma quercina on Vitis vinifera from Italy; Plagiosphaera immersa on Urtica dioica from Austria; Rinodina sicula from Turkey; Sphaerosporium lignatile from Wisconsin, USA; and Verrucaria murina from Turkey. Multi-locus analysis of ITS, LSU, rpb1, tef1 sequences revealed that P. immersa, commonly classified within Gnomoniaceae (Diaporthales) or as Sordariomycetes incertae sedis, belongs to Magnaporthaceae (Magnaporthales). Analysis of a six-locus Ascomycota-wide dataset including SSU and LSU sequences of S. lignatile revealed that this species, currently in Ascomycota incertae sedis, belongs to Pyronemataceae (Pezizomycetes, Pezizales).

The traditional honey wine is a ceremonial drink made locally in Ethiopia and Eritrea. The drink is known as Tej in Amharic (a widely spoken language in Ethiopia) and Mess in Tigrigna (a widely spoken language in Eritrea). It is consumed mostly during social and religious ceremonies, albeit sold in honey wine bars. It is easy to prepare with varied tastes by local people from its main components; honey, chopped stems of Rhamnus prinoides or roots of R. staddo and water. Honey and the shrubs used for the preparation of the wine are recognized for their medicinal importance worldwide. Particularly, after the isolation of geshoidin, a bitter glycoside from R. prinoides, that is currently being investigated for its role in providing novel-pharmacological leads for Alzheimer's treatment. On the other hand, R. staddo has been investigated for potential antimalarial candidate. These with other beneficial metabolites from the shrubs call for a wider investigation into the medicinal benefits of the honey wine. Furthermore, considering its declining consumption, limited efforts to preserve the indigenous knowledge of preparing the drink and lack of adequate promotion, further research is needed to lead into the sustainability of drink for generations and its global usage.

Abstract We report mycodiversity of the different forest types of the Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India. The results drawn here are based on the study carried out in the different forest sites of the Garhwal Himalaya during the rainy season from 2013 to 2015. We collected a total of 323 specimens, including 310 specimens belonging to Basidiomycota and 13 to Ascomycota. Furthermore, 212 specimens of Basidiomycota were identified and grouped into 33 families, 75 genera and 198 species, while 13 specimens of Ascomycota were grouped into 7 families, 7 genera and 11 species. 127 species were found in oak dominated temperate broadleaved forest, while 42 were collected from coniferous and 19 from the mixed woodland composed mainly of Quercus, Myrica, Rhododendron and Pinus trees in middle to higher hills, and Shorea robusta and Tectona grandis in the dipterocarp forests of lower hills. In terms of fungal species distribution in these forests, Amanitaceae, Russulaceae and Boletaceae were found most dominant in oak dominated forests, whereas Tricholomataceae and Cantharellaceae were commonly found in Pinus and Cedrus dominated forests and those belonging to family Cortinariaceae – in mixed forests. Species belonging to the families Agaricaceae, Amanitaceae and Tricholomataceae were found dominant in dipterocarp forest in the lower Himalayan region. The majority of species belonging to all families were found near lower to mid range altitude, which may result from the overlapping effect of atmospheric temperature and climate. The members of seven families, i.e., Russulaceae, Amanitaceae, Tricholomataceae, Boletaceae, Cantharellaceae, Cortinariaceae and Gomphaceae, were found as main ectomycorrhizal forming species from the elevation range of 500-2800 m a.s.l., in all four forest types.

A survey of wild macrofungi associated with temperate evergreen forests of the Bharsar region of the Pauri Garhwal district, Uttarakhand, India, yielded specimens of 12 different species representing 10 genera. During the field work, we also collected several fruiting bodies unique to their respective genera. These included (1) a fruiting body with a small cap and long slender stipe belonging to the group of species within the genus Lactarius (subgenus Russularia) characterized by a rusty red cap and white latex; (2) a tall species of Hebeloma with a veil and thin crowded gills, and (3) a species of Hygrocybe that stains black. Owing to their special characteristic features, the specimens of Lactarius and Hebeloma are likely to be species new to science, but this requires further investigation. In addition, nine other taxa are briefly described herein, with their major macroscopic features noted. This is the first report of the macrofungal wealth from this diverse forest of the Bharsar region in the Uttarakhand Himalaya, India.

A detailed macroand micromorphological studies coupled with the LSU-based phylogenetic inference of Aureoboletus nephrosporus, a tubulose member of the family Boletaceae is presented. Similarly, another tubulose bolete, Strobilomyces mirandus which was collected both from Eastern and Western Himalayas of India is also reported here with morphological details and ITS-based phylogeny. Both are the new records for this country.

This is a continuity of a series of taxonomic and phylogenetic papers on the fungi where materials were collected from many countries, examined and described. In addition to extensive morphological descriptions and appropriate asexual and sexual connections, DNA sequence data are also analysed from concatenated datasets to infer phylogenetic relationships and substantiate systematic positions of taxa within appropriate ranks. Wherever new species or combinations are proposed, we apply an integrative approach using morphological and molecular data as well as ecological features wherever applicable. Notes on 112 fungal taxa are compiled in this paper including Biatriosporaceae and Roussoellaceae, Didysimulans gen. nov., 81 new species, 18 new host records and new country records, five reference specimens, two new combinations, and three sexual and asexual morph reports. The new species are Amanita cornelii, A. emodotrygon, Angustimassarina alni, A. arezzoensis, A. italica, A. lonicerae, A. premilcurensis, Ascochyta italica, A. rosae, Austroboletus appendiculatus, Barriopsis thailandica, Berkleasmium ariense, Calophoma petasitis, Camarosporium laburnicola, C. moricola, C. grisea, C. ossea, C. paraincrustata, Colletotrichum sambucicola, Coprinopsis cerkezii, Cytospora gelida, Dacrymyces chiangraiensis, Didysimulans italica, D. mezzanensis, Entodesmium italica, Entoloma magnum, Evlachovaea indica, Exophiala italica, Favolus gracilisporus, Femsjonia monospora, Fomitopsis flabellata, F. roseoalba, Gongronella brasiliensis, Helvella crispoides, Hermatomyces chiangmaiensis, H. chromolaenae, Hysterium centramurum, Inflatispora caryotae, Inocybe brunneosquamulosa, I. luteobrunnea, I. rubrobrunnea, Keissleriella cirsii, Lepiota cylindrocystidia, L. flavocarpa, L. maerimensis, Lophiotrema guttulata, Marasmius luculentus, Morenoina calamicola, Moelleriella thanathonensis, Mucor stercorarius, Myrmecridium fluviae, Myrothecium septentrionale, Neosetophoma garethjonesii, Nigrograna cangshanensis, Nodulosphaeria guttulatum, N. multiseptata, N. sambuci, Panus subfasciatus, Paraleptosphaeria padi, Paraphaeosphaeria viciae, Parathyridaria robiniae, Penicillium punicae, Phaeosphaeria calamicola, Phaeosphaeriopsis yuccae, Pleurophoma italica, Polyporus brevibasidiosus, P. koreanus, P. orientivarius, P. parvovarius, P. subdictyopus, P. ulleungus, Pseudoasteromassaria spadicea, Rosellinia mearnsii, Rubroboletus demonensis, Russula yanheensis, Sigarispora muriformis, Sillia italica, Stagonosporopsis ailanthicola, Strobilomyces longistipitatus, Subplenodomus galicola and Wolfiporia pseudococos. The new combinations are Melanomma populina and Rubroboletus eastwoodiae. The reference specimens are Cookeina tricholoma, Gnomoniopsis sanguisorbae, Helvella costifera, Polythrincium trifolii and Russula virescens. The new host records and country records are Ascochyta medicaginicola, Boletellus emodensis, Cyptotrama asprata, Cytospora ceratosperma, Favolaschia auriscalpium, F. manipularis, Hysterobrevium mori, Lentinus sajor-caju, L. squarrosulus, L. velutinus, Leucocoprinus cretaceus, Lophiotrema vagabundum, Nothophoma quercina, Platystomum rosae, Pseudodidymosphaeria phlei, Tremella fuciformis, Truncatella spartii and Vaginatispora appendiculata and three sexual and asexual morphs are Aposphaeria corallinolutea, Dothiora buxi and Hypocrella calendulina.

Mushroom is a form of fungus having distinct fruit body produced either above ground or below ground. It can be easily noticed in moist habitat in and around forest, grassland, on tree trunks due to their peculiar appearance. Present communication discusses important habit and habitats, medicinal and culinary uses, status of mushrooms in Ethiopia, and sustainable use for sustenance and food security.

Mushroom is a form of fungus having distinct fruit body produced either above ground or below ground. It can be easily noticed in moist habitat in and around forest, grassland, on tree trunks due to their peculiar appearance. Present communication discusses important habit and habitats, medicinal and culinary uses, status of mushrooms in Ethiopia, and sustainable use for sustenance and food security.

In the present study, the diversity, edibility, indigenous knowledge and distribution of wild edible mushrooms in the Northwestern Himalaya are discussed. The information provided herein was derived from a study carried out in the states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh during the period of 2000-2013. A total of 23 species of mushrooms considered as edible or used for trade were recorded. Twenty-one of these are basidiomycetes and two are ascomycetes. Certain species of Amanita, Agaricus, Astraeus, Hericium, Macrolepiota, Morchella, Pleurotus and Termitomyces are very commonly collected and consumed by the local people, whereas species of Auricularia, Cantharellus, Sparassis, Lactarius, Ramaria and Russula are less commonly collected and consumed. Cordyceps sinensis and several species of Morchella are collected specifically for trade purposes in the spring season in high elevation areas of the Himalaya. Among the edible wild mushrooms collected are a number of species involved in ectomycorrhizal symbiotic relationships with banj (oak), other broadleaf trees and several types of conifers. The results of the present study can be used to promote the domestication of those wild edible mushrooms not yet cultivated in India. These results also indicate the need to avoid over exploitation of these mushrooms and a reason to establish a 'state germplasm bank' to allow studies of tissue culture. The latter could serve as the basis of further scientific study into various ways of enhancing the livelihood of particular areas of northern India through increased mushroom domestication as well as assessing the possible bioactivity of mushrooms against certain human diseases.

Four species of Amanita from Garhwal Himalaya are described in detail and illustrated for the first time from India - A. concentrica, A. rubrovolvata, A. subglobosa, and one that is not yet named and is given a designating code, "PAK5."

An attempt has been made to correlate the growth and development of fructifications of eight Amanita spp. in nature with temperature and rainfall in three different forests types of Garhwal Himalaya. Average stipe elongation, pileus diameter and life span varied with temperature and moisture and recorded more in the early season (mid- June to Aug.) than the late season (Sep. to mid- Oct.). The studies have indicated that the life span of a particular species is inversely proportional to the daily growth of Amanita spp.