Abstract
Wild edible mushrooms, which are sold in markets, and the use of their local names were investigated in the Gifu Prefecture, in the central part of Japan, in September 1998. The two Thelephoraceae species, Sarcodon aspratus and Boletopsis leucomelas, having a slightly bitter taste are esteemed and are commercially the most popular wild mushrooms in this region, as well as the "Matsutake" , Tricholoma matsutake, both which are sold at relatively high prices. Most of the wild mushrooms were called by one or more local names, and were never called by their standard Japanese common names. On the other hand, all the cultivated ones were called by the common names or by the popular commercial names printed on the package of a product. Most people did not know the original local names of the cultivated ones, even if the species have been cultivated a few decades before. This case study suggested that the original local names tend to disappear under the expansion of commercial products.
