Mushrooms of the Adirondacks: A Field Guide - Softcover

Bessette, Alan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0932052649 ISBN 13: 9780932052643

Publisher: North Country Books Inc, 1988

Synopsis

This is a guide to the most common edible and poisonous mushrooms found in the Adirondack area, but not restricted to it. This book is richly illustrated with over 140 color photographs and corresponding descriptions. Additional similar species are briefly described for each illustration as well. In all, over four hundred species are discussed. Information provided includes common and scientific names, collecting seasons, habitats and edibility. Techniques and helpful information regarding collecting, identifying, preserving and preparing wild mushrooms are also included.

About this title

Review

This attractive, simple-to-use book offers the novice a quick guide to identification of 141 mushrooms found in the Northeast. ne author has selected the most conspicuous and commonly encountered species from among hundreds endemic to the Adirondacks. Ile book First gives cursory coverage as to how, when, and where to collect mushrooms; their preservation; plus recommendations on how to use this book as a guide for identification. Naming an unknown specimen begins with the use of a simplified key to the major groups of mushrooms. Here the novice is treated to a painless introduction to major fungal types based on readily observed characteristics. Use of technical terminology is minimal, and the terms that are used can be found in a brief glossary. The identification key then refers the reader to a section of color plates. The photographs show each mushroom Pipe in various positions so that the stem, cap, and gills may be compared to the unknown field specimen. After matching the fungus to one in the photos, the reader is referred to a descriptive paragraph on that species. Size, habitat, edibility, related species, and other information contained here should help with identification. Unfortunately the key is occasionally vague (the price of its simplicity); but when used in conjunction with the photos and descriptive paragraphs, it does a reasonably good job. The excellent photographs will tempt the beginner to identify unknown specimens by visual comparisons. The author discourages this, as mushrooms are highly variable in size and color. Furthermore, the photos are not in scale so that one-inch specimens appear equal to those of six inches. Although the author mentions that not all mushrooms can be identified using this guide, it might have been wiser if he'd stressed more strongly the large number of mushrooms not contained in the book, lest the reader become overconfident as he approaches the last section which gives mushroom recipes. A one-page discussion on poisonous mushrooms precedes the recipe section, but it lacks the chilling effect of the finely printed disclaimer on the copyright page. This is an attractive book which invites browsing and is an adequate field guide for the casual student of nature. -- From Independent Publisher

Edition details

• Publisher: North Country Books Inc
• Publication date: 1988
• ISBN 10: 0932052649
• ISBN 13: 9780932052643
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 145