LIGNOSUS RHINOCERUS (Local name : Cendawan susu rimau) is an important medicinal mushroom found in Malaysia. The local community had been using this mushroom as an important medicinal mushroom as back dated even in 1930 as described by a local Malay in Pahang, Tuan Haji Mat Yusop (Corner, E.J.H. 1989). Besides as a tonic to maintain health, this fungus was believed to have more than 15 medicinal usages according to the different tribes. This included treatment for fever, cough, asthma, breast cancer, stomach cancer, food poisoning, healing wounds and etc.

The fungus was known as “Tiger’s milk” mushroom according to the folklore, as it was believed to emerge from the very spot where the milk of a prowling tigers has dropped on the ground. The underground fungus tuber or sclerotia will remain there for months, years or decades. The mushroom will only sprout out from the ground when nature calls. The underground sclerotium is the part with medicinal value. Unfortunately the presense of this sclerotium can only be noticed when the mushroom sprouts out from the ground. The existed of this mushroom in the earth is always solitary and this makes the collection of this wild Tiger’s milk mushroom difficult and limited.