Eschewing poisons: An ingenious wisdom of foraging macrofungi by Karbi ethnic group in North East India

Abstract

This study explores ethnomycological knowledge and management of mycetism by the Karbis of Assam, North East India. Ethnomycological data are quantitatively analysed for factors for informants' consensus, importance value and use value of 12 remedies used for the management of mycetism. Three layers of defence to avoid mycetism, viz. (i) field identification of edible and poisonous macrofungi using morphoorganoleptic features, etymology and phenology; (ii) selective cooking with various sour herbs, and (iii) use of ethnomedicine are reported here. Ethnomycological study among indigenes has benefits of documenting human culture, languages and protection of their intellectual property.