UPSC CSE Prelims 2022
The correct option is (c) 1 and 2.
Gucchi (Morchella esculenta), also known as the Morel mushroom, is a species of fungus belonging to the family Morchellaceae. It is one of the most expensive mushrooms in the world due to its unique flavor, spongy honeycomb texture, and the difficulty involved in its procurement.
Gucchi is biologically classified as a fungus (mushroom). It is not a plant, as it lacks chlorophyll and reproduces via spores.
It grows naturally in the Himalayan forest areas, particularly in the temperate forests of the Western Himalayas. It is found in regions of Jammu and Kashmir (e.g., Doda district), Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, often growing in clusters on logs of decaying wood, leaves, or humus-rich soil after snowfall.
Gucchi is not commercially cultivated on a large scale. Unlike common button mushrooms, Gucchi is notoriously difficult to cultivate in artificial environments because its growth depends on complex ecological factors in the wild. It is primarily wild-harvested by local communities in the Western Himalayas, not the foothills of North-Eastern India.
Gucchi is a wild, high-value fungus found primarily in the Western Himalayas (J&K, HP). It is collected from the wild and is not commercially cultivated.