The Philippines is a multi-ethnic country with a very rich and diverse species of macrofungi. Bugkalots, a well-known ethnic group in Northern Luzon, Philippines, are believed to use various species of mushrooms as part of their daily lives. To document the ethnomycological knowledge, belief, practices, and utilization of macrofungi by the Bugkalot indigenous community in Alfonso Castañeda, Nueva Vizcaya, a survey and interview approach were used. The result of the study showed that a total of 50 species of macrofungi has been reported by the Bugkalots. However, only 45 species were collected and identified morphologically. Out of these macrofungi, only 17 species were used as food (Auricularia auricula-judae, Auricularia polytricha, Boletus sp., Clitocybe sp., Coprinopsis atramentaria, Coprinopsis lagopus, Coprinus cinereus, Lentinus tigrinus, Lentinus sp. 1, Lentinus sp. 2, Mycena sp., Panaeolus sp., Pleurotus dryinus, Polyporus sp. 2, Polyporus sp. 3, Schizophyllum commune, and Stereum lobatum) and 7 species were used as medicine (Fomitopsis sp., Ganoderma applanatum, 3 species of Ganoderma lucidum, Polyporus picipes and Polyporus sp. 5). Their local names, specific use, mode of preparation, and administration is documented in this paper. This is the first ethnomycological study conducted on the Bugkalot indigenous people in the Philippines.
IJPRAS
