Mushrooms and Toadstools

Fungus hunting for food and for study has become increaingly popular in recent years but many people regard toadstools with apprehension. However, awareness of funghi, which are often compellingly beautiful, will enhance the enjoyment of country walks, particularly in the autumn when most of them appear. This book is concerned with those fungi which have conspicious forms. Although these are mostly the familiar mushrooms or toadstool shape there are sections devoted to other shapes-cup fungi, fairy clubs and bracket fungi. Many of the different colours that fuingi exhibit are shown, ranging from bright vermillion, through yellow, green and bluish tints, to the palest violet, as are some more unusual shapes inclusing earth stars and bird's nest fingi. There is an informative introduction which demonstrates that some widely-held beliefs about methods of indentifying harmful toadstools are merely myths. There is a section on poisonous species (surprisingly few are lethal) and another, longer section devoted to edible fungi. The lavish illustrations show how attractive and intersting this much-maligned group can be and how the countrysinde can provide unusual and delicious food items for the adventurous cook.