North American Mushrooms: A Field Guide To Edible And Inedible Fungi (Falconguide)

> At first glance NAM would seem to be an exceptional resource. The coverage is vast (the number of species with descriptions and photos). NAM is physically well designed as a fieldguide (i.e., a book which will survive being taken into the field). Because of the vast coverage, NAM is a good source to browse looking for species which look similar to your specimen — you’ll usually find many candidates.> However, the text is not designed to facilitate use. For example, there are no cross-references between diagrams and the keys, nor between the keys and individual species entries. When similar species are listed in the species entry comments, no corresponding page numbers are given.> The index is an excessive 20 pages long. In addition to common names, higher taxa, etc, the index includes “species, genus” but not “genus, species”, nor simple genus, entries. For example, the genus Schizophyllum does not appear in the index at all, even though, commune, Schizophyllum, does. Similarly, there is no entry in the index for the genus Boletus — if you don’t have a species name to look for, you can’t find any “Boletus species” using the index. In fact, all the boletes (regardless of genera), are scattered randomly in the “Boletes–Boletales” section. I wish that the book had a separate simple “genus species” index (which would be 4–5 pages). I’ve frequently failed to find specific species in the index, and subsequently found it later by accident while looking in the text for a different species.> Sometimes deciphering whether a name in the comments section is a synonym or a similar species is difficult. The short descriptions of individual species, in dense mycological jargon, usually fail to address characteristics I’m looking for. The huge number of species included is daunting — frequently, I can find a half-dozen potential visual matches, but little guidance on how to narrow down the possibilities — usually no guidance across genera (e.g., between very similar looking Lactarius and Russellas). Even species I’m familiar with often don’t seem to match the photos in NAM. Bottom line, my success rate in identifying species using NAM is low, and my frustration level is high.> There is a high reliance on keys, but keys only apply to the species in the guidebook, which is probably less than 20% of the reasonably common species at any particular location—that’s true of any guidebook. NAM has an illustrated glossary but it is inadequate. The illustrated glossaries belong on the fly pages where they can be easily found, not buried in interior pages (as they are in NAM). Caveat, I was pleasantly surprised to find a diagram of the anatomy of earthstars (after tearing my hair out for a week or more trying to decipher the jargon used for earthstars) — but there aren’t comparable diagrams of other groups (other than for plain vanilla mushrooms, and even that is incomplete). The photos are good, and the reproduction (print) quality is high. But, the photos are small. While including numerous (averaging about 6) specimens in each photo (often of different stages, some showing gill surfaces, etc.) is commendable, that means that the individual specimens are often quite small in the photos.> Stress on northern, particularly northwestern, conifer ecosystems. However, includes whole groups not seen in other mushroom guidebooks.

How was this field guide published, allowing him to simply use the unverifiable "Dr." title without listing his credentials? Sorry... this is purposefully misleading and I don't trust people who do this.Careful with his "keys" to genera. Cross-reference everything! Pics are just OK. Many are dark. Descriptions aren't going to be the easiest for novice foragers. The index lists species first. This makes the index very difficult to reference.

I am a beginner to mushroom hunting and found this book very informative. Like with any other field guide you cannot go by only the pictures, you must read everything. I have learned so much about the different levels of toxins in the mushrooms and what symptoms they cause. It is very important that you read everything so you can properly identify mushrooms, especially if you intend to eat them. Some of the mushrooms, however, the authors say are edible but don't say much about "choice" edibles. For instance: Morels are one of the most sought after in the world, they don't say this in the book because it is all opinion on what the author's taste buds prefer. I have ate Laetiporus a.k.a. "chicken of the woods" (which is what many people call it), and the authors don't mention it as chicken of the woods. Other mushrooms they use the scientific names for but in the comments they also have the name of what many people know the mushroom as. I really enjoy this book but you must pay attention to all the details and not be scarred about the flavors of the mushrooms because people have different taste buds. I have not found a wild mushroom I did not like, but all store bought mushrooms I cannot stand to eat.

This is a great starter book. I had so much fun running around taking pictures of all the mushrooms I could find. The relationship between trees and their mushrooms is very interesting. Even the mushrooms that break down dead trees are beneficial. I started late in the season and I still found lots of stuff and lost 25 pounds walking. There's something really satisfying about foraging. Wear good shoes and don't forget your basket and bug spray!

Wished it was more location specific

This book is full of nice photos and information.

I still use this book often. Over the years I've used this book as a reference for many of the mushrooms shown on my YouTube channel, MiWilderness.Two things that make me want to recommend this book are the emphasis the author puts on describing impostors or "look-a-likes" and the section on toxicity in mushrooms. The author takes great effort to prevent you from accidentally poisoning yourself by eating the wrong mushroom. If you do poison yourself, at least you'll have an idea of the toxin and effects it may have on your system.Many mushrooms are covered and the book is easy to read and cross-reference. I always use and strongly recommend using multiple sources for identification of plants and fungi. If you're serious about hunting fungi for the table this book is a must have.

Didnt like that i had to relearn everything to be able to use the book. Not a beginner book. Very frustrating learing all the names of mushrooms then getting a ook that doesn't use a single one.

No mu gusto que viniera maltratado el libro

Love the book. Stays in my bag and comes with me to the bush every time. Lots of info. More durable paper would be nice but I don't think it's meant to be carried into the bush every week. I've recommended it to friends and had them get this one

Can be hard to find what you are looking for as a reference guide if you come across an unknown mushroom but it is still a great book which has helped us successfully identify edible mushrooms. The book has paid for it self in free mushrooms.

Have to wait for warmer weather when I can start eating wild shrooms. But I will be ready

very full and a great book but you need to know a thing or two before getting into this book(its a bit beyond my knowledge but im glad i own it :)