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© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature
Switzerland AG 2021
M. T. Abdullah et al. (eds.), Resource Use and Sustainability of Orang Asli,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-64961-6_6
A Study of Wild Mushrooms Utilised
for Food and Medicine by the Orang Asli
Communities of Sungai Berua, Terengganu
Harizah Nadiah Hamzah and Aqilah Mohammad
Abstract The traditional knowledge on the utilisation of wild mushrooms by the
Orang Asli in Kampung Sungai Berua, Hulu Terengganu, in Terengganu state of
Peninsular Malaysia has yet to be documented. Therefore, a study was conducted to
identify the mushroom species consumed as food and used as medicine, besides
documenting the traditional knowledge of the Orang Asli in Kampung Sungai
Berua. Information was gathered through interviews, observations, mushroom collection and laboratory analysis. A total of 11 mushroom species were recorded,
where nine species, namely Auricularia auricula- judae, Clavulina sp., Lentinus
sp., Schizophyllum commune, Termitomyces heimii, Termitomyces microcarpus,
Panus giganteus, Hygrocybe conica and Cookiena sp., were utilised as food. Three
species, namely Lignosus rhinoceros, Pycnoporus sp. and Cookeina sp., were utilised for medicinal purposes. Although wild mushrooms are not the main source of
food in the daily lives of the Orang Asli, their occurrence is much anticipated by the
villagers, and their utilisation is part of the traditional knowledge that has been
passed down for generations.
Keywords Wild mushrooms · Food · Medicine · Orang Asli · Terengganu ·
Traditional knowledge
H. N. Hamzah
Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu,
Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
A. Mohammad (*)
Institute of Tropical Biodiversity and Sustainable Development, Universiti Malaysia
Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
e-mail: aqilahmohammad@umt.edu.my
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature
Switzerland AG 2021
M. T. Abdullah et al. (eds.), Resource Use and Sustainability of Orang Asli,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-64961-6_6
A Study of Wild Mushrooms Utilised
for Food and Medicine by the Orang Asli
Communities of Sungai Berua, Terengganu
Harizah Nadiah Hamzah and Aqilah Mohammad
Abstract The traditional knowledge on the utilisation of wild mushrooms by the
Orang Asli in Kampung Sungai Berua, Hulu Terengganu, in Terengganu state of
Peninsular Malaysia has yet to be documented. Therefore, a study was conducted to
identify the mushroom species consumed as food and used as medicine, besides
documenting the traditional knowledge of the Orang Asli in Kampung Sungai
Berua. Information was gathered through interviews, observations, mushroom collection and laboratory analysis. A total of 11 mushroom species were recorded,
where nine species, namely Auricularia auricula- judae, Clavulina sp., Lentinus
sp., Schizophyllum commune, Termitomyces heimii, Termitomyces microcarpus,
Panus giganteus, Hygrocybe conica and Cookiena sp., were utilised as food. Three
species, namely Lignosus rhinoceros, Pycnoporus sp. and Cookeina sp., were utilised for medicinal purposes. Although wild mushrooms are not the main source of
food in the daily lives of the Orang Asli, their occurrence is much anticipated by the
villagers, and their utilisation is part of the traditional knowledge that has been
passed down for generations.
Keywords Wild mushrooms · Food · Medicine · Orang Asli · Terengganu ·
Traditional knowledge
H. N. Hamzah
Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu,
Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
A. Mohammad (*)
Institute of Tropical Biodiversity and Sustainable Development, Universiti Malaysia
Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
e-mail: aqilahmohammad@umt.edu.my