Collins Complete British Mushrooms and Toadstools: The essential photograph guide to Britain’s fungi

I noted a number of fungi webpages referring to this book. We've recently been out exploring the wonderful world of fungi, to record & photograph, not to forage and eat, no, we v much believe they should be left in nature and for others to enjoy. We want to know who they are cos that can add depth to our wildlife surveying & enjoyment on our walks. How can anyone survey any natural habitat without considering fungi? Unthinkable. So we embark on an exciting mission which has made October a rather magical month. I've already got half a dozen fungi books and got nowhere. Apps are now so very good. AI and geolocational data has revolutionized field recording. The apps are the first step. Every record is then checked and doubled checked with books. This is by far the best and most up-to-date comprehensive book we now have. Unlike birds, where we like drawings, for fungi we've found photos are immensely more helpful. My other books feel obsolete. I bought this for my partner and he loves it. Considering the info in it, it's not too unwieldy to take in the field. We'll test that tomorrow. EDIT: It's great in the field :-) Very happy I bought it. Loving visiting fungi in their weird wonderful world. They are well worth putting your exploring feet on for, getting muddy and going out to meet.

I purchased this as a gift. But I had a quick look through it and I have to say that the photography was excellent.

Fairly comprehensive, more for the beginner, which is perfect for me.

There's no such thing as a "complete" guide to anything, whatever the publishers might claim, and the authors make this quite clear in their introduction, defining the scope of their work, which is still extensive and includes many species I don't recall seeing in many other illustrated guides. The photographs are, in general, absolutely excellent, though it's very hard to show all key features in a single picture, and the text is concise and follows a simple format to aid in finding relevant details. I particularly like the sections at the end of the book dealing with the fungal associations of different habitats, but would like to have seen more rusts, smuts and slime moulds, which are usually neglected in other guide books. Only two small complaints - the use of made-up English names that are not in common usage on the photos means that I am constantly having to refer back to the facing text to check the more familiar scientific names, and the inclusion of specific epithets in the index under the name of the genus rather than in strict alphabetical order, followed by the genus (in brackets). This book will definitely be accompanying me on country walks from now on.

For amateur mycologists and mushroom lovers, this book is great. It has good clear photographic pics and the taxonomy (scientific names &c) - all up to date and it has some of the latest UK records. The authors concentrate more on the actual mushrooms, descriptions, where they are found with useful cross-referencing relating to habitat type. So if you find something unfamiliar under, say, a pine tree then you are likely to find it by going to that section first. There is a handy terminological glossary for those less familiar with mycological anatomy terms and a section on the correct way to collect mushrooms without getting too 'precious' about it. Although mentioned, there is not much description relating to edibility, although poisonous species are clearly labelled, so gastronomes may be slightly disappointed from that point of view but there is a good section on character recognition which is vital to such a book. The book is a handy pocket size, at a very good price and a very useful tool in the field.

perfect for that person who loves the outdoors and the forest walks

What I particularly liked was the vast number of species included. very many colour illustrations.

very good thank you happy christmas chag hanukah samei,ach john

Happy with purchase. Great book.

Testo datato ma sicuramente interessante.Comodo da portare nello zaino con un buon corredo di foto.Testo in inglese ma di facile consultazione