Mushrooms of North America

by Orson K. Miller Jr.

Book Overview

Here, for the first time in a special, flexible field guide edition, is the most comprehensive full-color guide to American fungi - called by the New York Times "Anybody's basic mushroom book....I... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 052547482X
• Release Date: September 1977
• Publisher: Plume
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 2.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 5.0" x 1.0" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

Good Field Reference

This book is a good pictorial field reference of North American mushrooms. At the very beginning of the book, immediately following the table of contents, is a picture key, a description of how to use the keys, a verbal key to the major groups of fungi, and a metric/inch ruler for aid in measurement. Next comes a general introduction, in which are described the main features of mushroom biology, methods for collecting and studying mushrooms, mushrooms names, seasons for collection mushrooms, edibility and preparation, and mushroom toxins. The main part of the book consists of the mushroom identification guide, organized according to the key of major mushroom groups. For each major group, there is a more specific key to identify the exact species. Each species then has a brief article that includes the scientific name, common names, edibility, tips on culinary preparation (if relevant), textual description, and notes about other similar species. Most, but not all, the articles are accompanied by high-quality color photographs. End material includes a very useful illustrated glossary, a textual glossary, a bibliography, and an index. The keys are reasonably clear; however, I must admit that I frequently skip the keys and just flip through the pictures on the chance of finding an immediate answer. Indeed, since for the gilled mushrooms, the first question in the keys is spore color, the keys can't really be used in the field since you need to take a spore print and wait for the colors to develop before you can use the keys. The textual descriptions of individual species tend to be rather brief, but seem adequate, nevertheless. In addition to characteristics relevant for field identification, Miller also includes some information that can only be readily checked in a lab, such as spore size, shape, and chemical staining. Due to its ease of use and comprehensiveness, this book and the Peterson's Guide by Lincoff are the 2 volumes I am most likely to carry with me when heading out into the wood for a mushroom walk.

Mushrooms of North America

Mushrooms of North America by Orson K. Miller, Jr. is a worderful book that is complete with pictures and very good description and keys and an illustrated glossary of the mushrooms that grow in North America.This is a flexible field guide and is comprehensive and has full-color pictures of mushrooms. It has a how, when and where to collect mushrooms. The book has a key to determine the exact species, a bibliography and a special section on mushroom toxins.An index to all the species (680) and all the genera described or mentioned within the book. It is well written and logical book that meets and satisfies the need of all types of possible users: from the casual observer, the ardent amatuer mycologist, and the student of biology.This is one of the books that gives only positive chemical reactions... odors, tastes, etc... and are given, such as amyloid (blue) spores in Melzer's reagent, or bitter taste when the flesh of a mushroom is tested. This is a very valuable book to have while hunting mushrooms.If you can find it... get it... you won't be disappointed. Every attempt is made in this book to show the fungus in its natural habitat or to illustrate the diagnostic features which one should see in order to be sure of identification.All around a superior book and field guide.