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| Latin name: | Pleurotus nebrodensis (Inzenga) Quélet |
| Common name: | Funcia di basilisc (Sicilian) |
| Family: | Pleurotaceae (Fungi Kingdom) |
| Status: | CRITICALLY ENDANGERED (CR) |
Where is it found?
Pleurotus nebrodensis is the only mushroom included in the "Top 50", and while technically not a plant, it was included to illustrate that some fungi as well as plants have been reduced to critically low levels and face imminent extinction. This mushroom only occurs in northern Sicily, growing in scattered localities in the Madonie mountains at an altitude of 1,200-2,000 m. It grows on limestone substrates, in pastures containing "Basiliscu" Cachrys ferulacea, a flowering plant belonging to the Umbelliferae or celery family.
 The island of Sicily
How to recognise it
The size of ripe fruiting bodies of this creamy to yellowish white mushroom varies. The diameter of its cap ranges from 5-20 cm, and is characterized by its deeply slanted whitish to pale yellow gills. Its stem is short and thick, either growing from the centre or to one side. When mature (approximately two or three days after the appearance on the ground of fruiting bodies), the surface of the cap breaks up. The species grows on rotten roots of Cachrys ferulacea in springtime from April to June.
Interesting facts
Pleurotus nebrodensis was first described as Agaricus nebrodensis by Giuseppe Inzenga in 1863, and he called it "the most delicious mushroom of the Sicilian mycological flora". It has been a sought-after species since ancient times, and today remains a prized species. Given its rarity, it is sold in northern Sicily at a price fluctuating between 50-70 Euros per kilogramme. However, as the species is so rare, there is no formal market and the species is used in only a few restaurants where it is prepared using a number of traditional recipes.
Why is it threatened?
This species has been categorized CR (Critically Endangered) according to IUCN Red List Criteria B1ab(iv,v)+2ab(iv,v), because the area where it is found is less than 100 km2 and the population severely fragmented, and there is a decline in the number of localities and mature individuals. This is to due to the increasing number of mushroom gatherers, both professional and amateur, who are encouraged by the high price this mushroom commands. In addition to this increasing human pressure on the remaining natural populations, unripe fungi are usually collected. Due to the collection of unripe specimens, it is estimated that less than 250 individuals reach maturity each year.
What is being done to protect it?
Legally: Currently, local regulations in the Madonie Park as well as a regional law do not exist. Draft rules have been prepared and submitted for the approval of the Government of Sicily. When approved, the collection of Pleurotus nebrodensis will be totally forbidden in zone A of the Park which is an integral reserve area. In other zones the collection of unripe mushrooms (i.e. those under 3 cm in diameter) will also be forbidden.
In situ: This species grows in Madonie Park which is a protected area. Experimental tests demonstrate that is possible to inoculate the roots of the host plant Cachrys ferulacea with the mushroom, thereby increasing mushroom production in the wild.
Ex situ: This species has started to be cultivated to reduce collection pressures on the species in the wild. The mushroom is grown in a tunnel made of metal arches varying in length between 20-30 m, and covered by a black net that provides 90% shade, and can be grown at various altitudes. Fortunately cultivated Pleurotus mushrooms retain the same characteristic aroma and flavour of the wild varieties, which is not the case with other species such as oyster mushrooms. Ex situ cultivation also provides additional income for local farmers, who can offer a cheaper product than that collected from the wild, which reduces the pressure on the wild population.
What conservation actions are needed?
Legal action and enforcement is needed to stop over-collection and collection of unripe individuals of Pleurotus nebrodensis in the wild. At the same time the species needs to be cultivated ex situ to remove pressure on the wild populations. Reinforcement measures by inoculating the roots of its host plant and boosting wild production would also help, provided wild collection is carefully managed.
Scientific coordination
Dr Giuseppe Venturella, University of Palermo, Italy.
Références
Palazzolo & Venturella (1996); Venturella & Ferri (1996); Venturella & La Rocca (2001); Venturella (1999, 2000); Zervakis & Venturella (2002); Zervakis et al. (2001).
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