Morels [Paperback]

Michael Kuo (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 21, 2005

Join the hunt for one of the most sought-after mushroom marvels---the elusive morel

"Michael Kuo offers an engaging survey of a diverse group of fungi whose fruiting bodies are among the most prized edible mushrooms. Morels is a lavishly illustrated poem that will be relished by amateur and professional mycologists alike."
---Nicholas P. Money, author of Mr. Bloomfield's Orchard: The Mysterious World of Mushrooms, Molds, and Mycologists

Filled to the brim with information about the science and sport of finding, identifying, and savoring these world-renowned fungi, Morels is a far-ranging, reader-friendly book about one of America's most popular and passionately pursued outdoor activities.

Author Michael Kuo brings years of morel-hunting experience to Morels, delivering detailed information in an engaging, readable style to seasoned morel hunters and beginners alike.

Morels includes extensive information on the art of hunting morels and on current scientific knowledge regarding these delectable fungi. In addition, Kuo compiles easy-to-understand information on the latest scientific research into morels, from studies into how they grow to DNA-based classification of species.

With over two hundred color photographs.

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: University of Michigan Press/Regional (September 21, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0472030361
• ISBN-13: 978-0472030361
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #247,057 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #43 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Biological Sciences > Plants > Mushrooms

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Love Song to a Mushroom, December 1, 2005

By 

John Matlock "Gunny" (Winnemucca, NV) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Morels (Paperback)

This is a very beautiful book that almost could have been sub-titled: Everything you ever wanted to know about them including what they are, where to find them, what to do with them, and other bits of wisdom too numerous to mention.

Morels are fungi. One of the organisma that nature uses to help dead plants return their nutrients to the soil. It's also interesting, biologically speaking, in that it is in the process of evolving from a single celled organism (a yeast) into a multicelled organized. This appearantly began about 50,000 years ago.

Other than that, and regardless of the number of cells they have, morels are delicious. The people who gather them are called schroomers and collecting them is an enjoyable passtime, no collecting them is more like an addiction.

This book is a tribute to the fungi, the schroomers, and the eaters. It's couple of hundred photographs are little less than amazing. If this is your thing, this book will give you many enjoyable moments while you wait for the next collecting season.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautiful Book, October 7, 2005

By 

Nicholas P. Money "Nik Money" (Oxford, Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Morels (Paperback)

Michael Kuo offers a mycological stunner with his "Morels." The combination of superb photographs, authoritative information on mushroom distribution and identification, and a thoroughly engaging narrative is unbeatable. Michael's enthusiasm for the complex microorganisms that produce these bizarre fruiting bodies with potholed heads is apparent on every page of this painstakingly researched book. Mushroom hunters of all stripes will find this a valuable and enjoyable read.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Morels, The Fungi That Keeps You Wondering:, January 23, 2006

By 

Rex Bartlett "Rex" (Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Morels (Paperback)

And Michaels book is no exception to that rule. He does an excellant job of portraying us, the mushroom hunter, along with wit and real-life experiences that any serious morel hunter has probably experienced. As I read the book, I became engrossed in the factual and hypothetic scenerios that take place in the mysterious world of the Morchella.
Each page is yet another look into the world of the fungi, and Michael brings that to wherever you might have a read, with his text, diagrams and photography.
My only regret is that when the book was over, I was in need of more, because, after all, there is so much more......to.... Morels....