Around the world edible wild mushrooms are regarded as a delicacy and can be found in and outside forests, either picked for home consumption or sold at local markets. They are used in various dishes and contain important vitamins, minerals and proteins and many species are believed to cure ailments. Wild mushrooms, however, can also bring illnesses and even death to people, who are unaware of the many look-alike poisonous species. Thus, for many people the cultivated mushrooms are a good alternative to the wild mushrooms. All of the above-mentioned mushrooms grow naturally on dead wood or decaying plant materials and therefore possible to cultivate. One famous medicinal mushroom is reishi or ling-zhi (Ganoderma sp), common in Laos and
cultivated in huge quantities in China.