National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mushrooms (National Audubon Society Field Guides) [UNABRIDGED] (Turtleback)

~ Gary H. Lincoff (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

With more than 700 mushrooms detailed with color photographs and descriptive text, this is the most comprehensive photographic field guide to the mushrooms of North America. The 762 full-color identification photographs show the mushrooms as they appear in natural habitats. Organized visually, the book groups all mushrooms by color and shape to make identification simple and accurate in the field, while the text account for each species includes a detailed physical description, information on edibility, season, habitat, range, look-alikes, alternative names, and facts on edible and poisonous species, uses, and folklore. A supplementary section on cooking and eating wild mushrooms, and illustrations identifying the parts of a mushroom, round out this essential guide.

From the Inside Flap

With more than 700 mushrooms detailed with color photographs and descriptive text, this is the most comprehensive photographic field guide to the mushrooms of North America. The 762 full-color identification photographs show the mushrooms as they appear in natural habitats. Organized visually, the book groups all mushrooms by color and shape to make identification simple and accurate in the field, while the text account for each species includes a detailed physical description, information on edibility, season, habitat, range, look-alikes, alternative names, and facts on edible and poisonous species, uses, and folklore. A supplementary section on cooking and eating wild mushrooms, and illustrations identifying the parts of a mushroom, round out this essential guide.

Product Details

• Turtleback: 928 pages
• Publisher: Knopf; A Chanticleer Press Ed edition (December 12, 1981)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0394519922
• ISBN-13: 978-0394519920
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 3.9 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #5,503 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #1 in	Books > Science > Biological Sciences > Fungi
  #2 in	Books > Outdoors & Nature > Plants > Mushrooms
  #4 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Biological Sciences > Botany

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mushrooms, March 9, 2002

By	Joe Zika "Khemprof" (Cincinnati, Ohio) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This Field Guide is one of the best there is on the subject of mushrooms found in the North American continent. I hunt mushrooms regularly and use this guide when I encounter a mushroom that I am unfamiliar with or where there are simular features.

This guide has color photographs and an apt descriptions as to where and what a certain mushroom grows upon. Whether they are edible or not. I found this guide to be indispensable and keep it with me for accurate identification.

This guide is compact enough as to be with you on all hiking treks. It is worth the money as a very valuable tool for spore print color. Sometimes the only way to tell the difference between spieces.

Excellent and well worth reading. The best guide I found, but I own four others for cross reference. Before you harvest mushrooms from the wild you must be certain that what you harvest is what you've got.

Don't leave home without it. Be prepared...

45 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Get Mushrooms Demystified, August 6, 2002

By	"amanitaman" (Washington) - See all my reviews

Most people buy this book simply because it is an Audubon Society book. (I made this mistake) It seems the author left out important information in an attempt to keep the book field guide sized. By including a few species from every part of the country, the author made this book of little use to anyone who lives in one place. On the other hand, it does have a lot of pictures... Even if they are small, hopelessly jumbled, and labeled with made-up names. (seriously) This book is for people that have some spare money and want to expand their library. I would highly recommend a couple of other books instead: Mushrooms Demystified (The comprehensive text for beginners and experts alike), and All the Rain Promises and More (The field guide).

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The best North American field guide, November 16, 2000

By	RV full-timer (USA) - See all my reviews

This is a fine field guide, overall. It's not designed for total beginners -- those folks should get some experienced assistance before trying to identify mushrooms with this book alone. But once you know the basics, this guide can be your first reference, and the only one you carry in your pack.

Of the five field guides I have owned, this is by far the best for North American mushrooms. Still, no guide is 100% complete, so having some alternative guides to refer to is a good idea. Also, while it is described as "leather bound," my copy and all others I have seen actually are bound in vinyl with a leather-like texture stamped on it. Don't be fooled into thinking you are getting a real leather-bound book. Of course, vinyl is more practical for field use anyway, where you are likely to get the book wet!