The Mushroom Guide and Identifier: The Ultimate Guide to Identifying, Picking and Using Mushrooms

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The range of mushroom books available today is vast and varied, offering something for everyone, from novice to expert mycologists. Just including those generally referred to as the larger fungi – those just a few millimetres across all the way up to species that can reach a metre or more – there are around three thousand species recorded in Britain. You’ll get very good at Googling, which I think beats any app-based identification method currently available. It goes deep into the ways that mushrooms are grown commercially all over the world, some of the major trends in mushroom cultivation, and ways that mushroom growers are overcoming problems and becoming more efficient.

Due to the large number of species listed, there aren’t as many photos as one would like, but that’s a common problem with all printed guides – there isn’t space for all the pictures while also including an exhaustive number of species.

I enjoyed Patrick Harding’s Mushroom Miscellany, a series of short chapters on all aspects of fungi, and the New Naturalist volume Fungi by Brian Spooner and Peter Roberts is all-embracing and thorough, but not for the faint-hearted. Once you are more confident of the commoner species then there are a number of more specialist works, usually dealing with a specific group of fungi and this is often the best way to really make progress, by concentrating on a particular group which you find especially attractive or interesting.

The book goes into detail about each aspect of the mushroom, Stem, Flesh, Tubes/Gills/Pores/Teeth, Spores, Habitat and Edibility, as well as offering advice on the best way to prepare and even preserve the mushroom. With such a large number of species to choose from, identification can be both difficult and frustrating, and if edibility is a factor then obviously getting a correct identification is even more important; a mistake can be, and sadly has often been, fatal. Safety remains paramount – never consume a mushroom unless you're absolutely certain of its identity. However, once you’ve correctly identified and collected your produce, why not try out some tasty recipes, such as mushroom soups, stews, pasta, and even muffins?Of course, you aren’t going to be able to use this book for any serious identification, but it does provide a broad overview of the different mushrooms in the woods with fun illustrations and stories. For those seeking another comprehensive field guide, check out this Collins field guide, covering 2,400 mushroom species that can be found in the UK and Ireland. Each book is packed with stunning photographs, detailed descriptions, and helpful tips for identifying different mushroom species. Almost all the species can be identified in the field with a little experience and a good reference work.

Invest in trustworthy field guides or mushroom identification apps to aid you in accurately recognising mushrooms. The Falcon Guide Foraging Mushrooms Washington is an excellent starter guide for the edible species in Washington state. Of course, there are some dangerous fungi out there, so knowing how to identify the edible varieties of mushrooms is absolutely critical. Begin by immersing yourself in the realm of mycology, acquainting yourself with diverse mushroom species, their habitats, and growth patterns through books, videos, and online resources. While the book is written explicitly for Maine, most of the mushrooms can be found in all of New England.

He has written a number of popular books on fungi, including The Easy Edible Mushroom Guide, The Mitchell Beazley Pocket Guide to Mushrooms and the Larousse Fieldguide to Mushrooms. It includes a clear picture and illustration of the species, a brief description, the size, habitat, similar species, smell, taste, and season.

Compared to other pocket guides, it provides extensive coverage and detail on each species, making it a valuable resource for mushroom enthusiasts at any level. The book’s illustrations are particularly helpful as they provide clear details that photographs may miss.so don’t be surprised if the names in this book are different from what is commonly acceptable in 2020. It also goes over the topic of how mushrooms are processed, and which compounds are responsible for the beneficial effects.