The Genus Amanita (Pers.) in Lumbini Zone, Nepal

A survey of the Lumbini Zone, Nepal—home to one of UNESCO’s most revered World Heritage Sites—revealed 12 species of the genus Amanita, including four previously unrecorded in Nepal: A. crocea, A. fulva, A. pantherina, and A. vaginata. These findings expand the known mycological diversity of the region, with particular significance for conservation efforts given the ecological roles of Amanita species as mycorrhizal partners to trees and shrubs. Researchers employed a combination of morphological identification, microscopic analysis, and DNA barcoding (ITS and 18S rDNA regions) to confirm species presence across 20 sampling sites, including sacred groves and agricultural lands. The study underscores the importance of integrating mycological surveys into broader biodiversity assessments at culturally significant heritage sites.

Aryal, H. P., & Budhathoki, U. (2013). The Genus Amanita (Pers.) in Lumbini Zone, Nepal. Scientific World, 11(11), 113–120. https://doi.org/10.3126/sw.v11i11.8564