Lichenized and non-lichenized fungi: Folklore and fact

Abstract

Summary The use of fungi, particularly macro-fungi, in culinary and medical activities is discussed, in addition to the early history of the cultivation of fungi for human consumption. Larger fungi have been utilized in the production of dyes, tinder, and fabric over many centuries and have been used also as a source of light and for deodorizing and fumigation. Difficulty is experienced in separating facts from folklore, but there is, as with lichens, a distinct reliance on the doctrine of signatures. Although lichens were widely used in a range of medicinal concoctions, some of which worked to a limited degree, their economic value has been greater in connection with textiles and cosmetics. They have also been an essential ingredient in the economy of the peoples in Arctic regions, as a fodder for reindeer.