Studies on Higher Fungi in Pine Dominated Mixed Forest in Binsar Wild Life Sanctuary in Almora, Kumaun Himalaya

Studies on Higher Fungi in Pine Dominated Mixed Forest in Binsar Wild Life Sanctuary in Almora, Kumaun Himalaya

Man’s interest started with the observation of the beautiful umbrella shaped mushrooms growing on soils forming “fairy-rings” in the forest. The majority of these mushrooms belong to hymenomycetes of basidiomycotina. Some belongs to discomycetes of ascomycotina also. Mushrooms are devoid of chlorophyll, hence unable to manufacture their own food and therefore, they are saprophytic in nature. Some mushrooms are edible while other are poisonous, the latter known as “toadstools” which literally means death chair. In the present investigations Binsar wildlife Sanctuary has been selected as the study area. We had collected fifteen species of mushrooms during the rainy season (July to September) from the study area..