also: ほだぎ
mushroom-growing log
A log used as a substrate for cultivating mushrooms, especially shiitake. Common in agricultural contexts.
In this region, they inoculate mushroom-growing logs with shiitake spawn.
Standard kanji spelling; the reading ほだぎ is more common than ほたぎ.
Kana spelling used when the kanji are obscure or for clarity.
An old native word ほだ, referring to pieces of wood used as fuel and later to logs used for mushroom cultivation; 榾 is its conventional kanji spelling. Its deeper origin is uncertain.