Mushrooms

Mushrooms are rather magical, one of our planet`s hidden treasures and most amazing organisms. Used for millennia as both food, medicine and (sometimes) poison, mushrooms and toadstools have an ancient place in our culture – a ring of mushrooms was believed to be a magnet for fairies to come out to dance, while in Greek mythology, mushrooms were said to originate from Zeus`s lightning because they appeared after rainstorms. Mushrooms provides a concise guide to the world`s major mushrooms and toadstools arranged by species. Each entry includes details of the fungi`s main features, such as the shape and colour of the cap, the gills and the stem, plus details of the mushroom`s typical environment and whether it is poisonous or edible. Discover the remarkable lion`s mane, a shaggy white mushroom found on the trunks of dead hardwood trees such as oak; see the disconcerting Jelly Ear, it`s large tan-brown fleshiness growing on the branches of trees; marvel at the vivid hues of the red-and-white spotted fly agaric, thought to be the home of fairies and magical creatures, and known to cause hallucinations and psychotic reactions if eaten; and learn about the porcini mushroom, which, with its woodsy and nutty flavour, is widely used for cooking. Vivid, informative and illustrated with more than 280 photographs, Mushrooms offers a compact pictorial guide to fungi for foragers, cooks and nature lovers.