Glimpses of Rare and Infrequent Macrofungi in Southwest India

Macrofungi, or mushrooms, constitute an essential living segment worldwide, which serves humankind in terms of nutrition, health, industrially valued materials, and environmental preservation.This study encompasses descriptions and illustrations of 40 rare, infrequent species of macrofungi (33 basidiomycetes and six ascomycetes) occurring in the Western Ghats and southwest India.Coffee agroforests possess the highest number of fungi (13 spp.), followed by scrub jungles (11 spp.), reserve forests, shola forests (7 spp.each), and botanical gardens (6 spp.).Among the substrates, soil possesses the highest number of fungi (23 spp.), followed by woody litter (13 spp.).Among the macrofungi, up to 11 species are mycorrhizal, nine species are edible, and six species are medicinal.Six species also possess dual values (edible and mycorrhizal).Although as many as 23 species are inedible, their economic significance can be explored.Further insights on rare or infrequent macrofungi in southwest India are warranted.