• A new edible mushroom species has been discovered in the rain-soaked pine forests of the East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya.
• Scientifically named Lactifluus khasianus and locally known to the Khasi community as Tit iongnah, the fungus has been a part of tribal diets for generations.
• The discovery, confirmed through DNA sequencing and modern taxonomy, bridges indigenous knowledge with contemporary biodiversity science.
• Researchers from the Botanical Survey of India’s Eastern Regional Centre, St. Xavier’s College (Dumka), and Mahidol University, Thailand, identified the mushroom using field surveys, microscopic studies, and genetic analysis.
• Belonging to the milkcap genus Lactifluus, section Gerardii, the species is distinguished by its chocolate-brown cap, larger cystidia, and its symbiotic growth with Khasi pine trees at elevations around 1,600 metres.
• For Khasi tribal communities, Tit iongnah has long been a seasonal delicacy collected during the monsoon and sold in local markets. Rich in protein and micronutrients, it forms an important part of their traditional food practices, predating its scientific classification by decades.
• This is the fifth species of its section recorded in India, and the first confirmed edible one. Meghalaya, part of the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot, continues to reveal new fungal diversity, with over 34 Lactifluus species documented so far.
• The discovery underscores the role of indigenous wisdom in biodiversity conservation and the importance of collaborative research in unlocking nutritional, ecological, and potential medicinal benefits of forest fungi.