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Astraeus odoratus

Phosri, Watling, M. P. Martin & Whalley

Lycoperdiaceae Edible: Mushroom, Fungus

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Astraeus odoratus (Thai: เห็ดเผาะหนัง; Het pho nang เห็ดเผาะหนัง, Het pho เห็ดเผาะ, or Het nang เห็ดหนัง, the latter meaning "skin mushroom") is a species of false earthstar in the family Diplocystaceae. Described as a new species in 2004, it was originally found in the Thai highlands growing in sandy or laterite-rich soil in dry lowland dipterocarp forests. The species is found in Southeast Asia.

Description

A mushroom.

This description is brief — help expand it

Edible Uses

Since they cannot be cultivated commercially, these mushrooms fetch a high price on the market. Young fruit bodies are collected from the wild and sold in the markets of Thailand. Thai people eat the blanched mushroom with nam phrik (Thai chilli pastes) or nam chim (dipping sauces), or cooked in curry and also only boiled in water with fish sauce and palm sugar.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant.

Where It Grows

Asia, Indochina, Laos, SE Asia, Thailand,

Other Information

It is sold in local markets.

Notes

It is probably useful against TB and cancer. Also put in the family Diplocystidiaceae.

Synonyms

Astraeus thailandicus Petcharat

Also Known As

Het pho

References (3)

  • Arpha, K., et al, 2012, Astraodoric Acids A-D: New Lanostane Triterpenes from Edible Mushroom Astraeus odoratus and Their Anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra and Cytotoxic Activity. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 60: 9834-9841
  • Luczaj, L., et al, 2021, Wild food plants and fungi sold in the markets of Luang Prabang, Lao PDR. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine (2021) 17:6
  • Petcharat, V., 2005, Edible Astraeus (Basidiomycota) from Thailand. Nordic Journal of Botany. Vol. 23, 4: pp 499-503 (As Astraeus thailandicus)

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