Collins Gem Mushrooms describes almost 240 species of mushrooms and toadstools to be commonly found in Britain. Portable and clear, it is the ideal guide for those out foraging for fungi! Each mushroom or toadstool entry includes: • A photograph, illustration and clear description of its appearance • Details of size, habitat and when it can be found • Whether it is edible or poisonous • The names of similar species with which the mushrooms or toadstools could be confused, and details of the differences between them.
Author:
Patrick Harding
RRP:
£4.99
Published Date:
06/09/2004
ISBN:
0-00-718307-0
Format
Paperback Hardback
Author
wyevilla Officer of the Wild Empire
Registered: January 2007 Location: Dorchester, Dorset Posts: 510
Review Date: Fri 26, January, 2007
Would you recommend it? Yes |
Total Spent: £4.99| Rating: 7
Strengths:
Light to carry: definitely pocket sized
Weaknesses:
The illustrations (particularly drawings) are inconsistent
Containing 240 species, this guide is useful for identifying fungi into broad classifications in the field. Being small and easily portable it is ideally suited for the pocket or bottom of the rucksack.
If a firmer id (ie to species level) is required then a more comprehensive volume should be considered. I also found the differences between the quality of the drawings and the photos to be somewhat troubling. The cross sections are obviously better drawn but there are surprising differences in, say, the colours of caps and stems. This can reflect the genuine range of colours seen in the wild, but also raises an element of doubt.
Nevertheless, this book has its place in helping the novice familiarise themselves with some of the commoner varieties and will help the more experienced to eliminate some contenders when trying to narrow down possible identification.
------------------------------ Best wishes, Neil
Who's Afear'd
