Yi Ethnomycology: Wild Mushroom Knowledge and Use in Yunnan, China

Abstract

Local ethnobiological knowledge offers critical insights into ecological processes, species diversity, and abundance, as well as changes in environmental conditions. Although ethnomycological knowledge remains understudied compared to local knowledge about plants and animals, wild fungi are important components of healthy, functioning ecosystems. Wild fungi are also integral to many social and economic systems. Yunnan Province, China, is home to both a wide diversity of wild edible mushrooms and extensive human-fungi relationships. Understanding local ecological and mycological knowledge is critical for conserving ecological systems and promoting sustainable livelihoods. This study investigates indigenous Yi ethnomycological knowledge in four communities in Nanhua County using both interviews and harvesting observations. The comparative merits and limitations of each method are assessed. Around 90 unique, named folk species were reported or observed in the study communities, with 54 species reported multiple times. Local mushroom names encode information about local ecology, species morphology, and abstract metaphorical ideas. In addition, harvesters variably referred to mushrooms in Yi, Mandarin, or with general descriptive categories, suggesting a link between species use, value, and naming conventions. This study found that directly observing mushroom harvests captured more detailed knowledge compared to recall-based interviews, including both a greater number of species and a more nuanced, multi-leveled taxonomic system. However, interviews revealed the cultural salience, economic values, and culinary preferences for many local mushroom species. These results highlight the importance of mixed-methods approaches to ethnoecological knowledge, as both recall and observational data may lead to different conclusions about local species abundance and diversity.

Reviewing the world's edible mushroom species: A new evidence‐based classification system

“…Field guides written for naturalists and foragers are a rich source of first‐hand information on a wide range of edible and poisonous species, often over a large physical area (e.g., Rodríguez et al., 1999; Tudor, 2010; Wang, Liu, & Yu, 2004). Ethnomycology studies provide in‐depth local knowledge on edible mushrooms for a defined region (Brown, 2019; Comandini & Rinaldi, 2020).…”

“…Ethnomycological studies from around the world continue to document which species are considered edible and poisonous. Notable examples by region include Africa (Buyck, 2008; Buyck & Nzigidahera, 1995; Degreef, Malaisse, Rammeloo, & Baudart, 1997; Morris, 1984; Pegler & Piearce, 1980), Asia (Brown, 2019; Chamberlain, 1996; Fui, Saikim, Kulip, & Seelan, 2018; Kang et al., 2016; Kumar, Harsh, Prasad, & Pandey, 2017), Europe (Cai, Pettenella, & Vidale, 2011; Kasper‐Pakosz, Pietras, & Łuczaj, 2016; Łuczaj, Stawarczyk, Kosiek, Pietras, & Kujawa, 2015; Pieroni, Nebel, Santoro, & Heinrich, 2005), Australia (Kalotas, 1997), North America (Álvarez‐Farias, Diaz‐Godinez, Téllez‐Téllez, Villegas, & Acosta‐Urdapilleta, 2016; de Avila, Welden, & Guzmán, 1980; Garibay‐Orijel et al., 2020; Ruan‐Soto, 2018), Central America (Guzmán, 2001b; Morales, Bran, & Cáceres, 2010), and South America (Fidalgo & Prance, 1976; Gamboa‐Trujillo et al., 2019; Sanuma et al., 2016; Vasco‐Palacios, Suaza, Castanõ‐Betancur, & Franco‐Molano, 2008). An increasing knowledge of how mushrooms grow has led to the cultivation of over 90 species (Boa, 2004), of which around 30 are grown commercially for food and consumed widely (Chang & Miles, 2004).…”

Ethnomycological study on wild mushrooms in Pu’er Prefecture, Southwest Yunnan, China

“…Yunnan is the province with the largest number of ethnic groups in China, each minority with their own culture, language, history and, of course, different uses for wild forest fungi. Brown [ 17 ] investigated Yi ethnomycological knowledge in four communities in Nanhua County, Yunnan Province, which showed that documenting ethnomycological knowledge highlights the importance of fungi in local ecosystems and livelihoods. Ethnomycological knowledge is a key tool for forest conservation to predict anthropic harvesting pressure zones of WEF and support the management and sustainable utilization of wild fungi [ 18 ].…”

Ethnomycological Investigation in Serbia: Astonishing Realm of Mycomedicines and Mycofood

“…Fungi are an important part of ecosystems, where they play many essential roles. They facilitate plants’ access to nutrients and water; serve as decay agents that cycle carbon and nutrients through the soil, water and atmosphere; and are major regulators of microbial populations [ 2 ]. It is widely known that they have been used historically and globally as food, as well as in medicine.…”