Traditional use of Polypores in Georgia (the Caucasus)

Authors

  • Angelina Jorjadze Institute of Botany, Ilia State University, Botanical St. 1, 0105 Tbilisi, Georgia
  • Rainer W Bussmann Department of Botany, State Museum of Natural History, Karlsruhe, Germany and Department of Ethnobotany, Institute of Botany, Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3524-5273
  • Narel Y Paniagua Zambrana Department of Ethnobotany, Institute of Botany, Ilia State University, Botanical St. 1, 0105 Tbilisi, Georgia
  • Ketevan Batsatsashvili School of Natural Sciences and Medicine, Ilia State University, 3/5 Kakutsa Cholokashvili St., 162 Tbilisi, Georgia
  • Eter Svanidze Institute of Botany, Ilia State University, Botanical St. 1, 0105 Tbilisi, Georgia

Abstract

Background: This paper describes traditional uses of polypore fungi in Georgia (the South Caucasus).

Methods: We used ethnomycological interviews collected in 2014–2017 in various regions of the country and available literature data.

Results: The research revealed eight polypore species traditionally used Georgia: Cerioporus squamosus, Daedalea quercina, Fistulina hepatica, Fomes fomentarius, Fomitopsis betulina, Laetiporus sulphureus, Panus rudis, Sparassis crispa.

Conclusions: Knowledge on medicinal uses of the species is lost in the population at present and can only be found in ethnographic/linguistic literature. The paper presents vernacular names of the polypore species with their Latin identifications and various uses (for food, medicine, decorations and tinder) with respective sources cited. 

Keywords: Ethnomycology, Polypores, Traditional knowledge, Georgia, the Caucasus

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Published

2023-09-08

How to Cite

Jorjadze, A. ., Bussmann, R. W., Paniagua Zambrana, N. Y., Batsatsashvili, K., & Svanidze, E. (2023). Traditional use of Polypores in Georgia (the Caucasus). Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 26, 1–18. Retrieved from https://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5417

Issue

Vol. 26 (2023)

Section

Reviews

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