The clearest recognition guides available Authoritative text, crystal-clear photography, and a readily accessible structure make this an indispensable pocket guide to mushrooms of the world. Packed with more than 2,300 full-color photographs and illustrations of over 500 mushrooms, the Smithsonian Handbook of Mushrooms is a concise guide to identification, enabling you to recognize each species quickly and easily. Photo-Encyclopedic Approach: Expertly written and thoroughly vetted, each entry combines a precise description with annotated photographs to highlight each mushroom's chief characteristics and distinguishing features. Meticulously drawn artworks depict each species in its natural environment, while quick-reference, color-coded bands provide useful at-a-glance facts, such as fruiting season, size, edibility, and spore deposit color. Identification Made Easy: By organizing all the mushrooms by shape, with major categories further subdivided by characteristics such as gill arrangement or flesh type, field identification is made as simple as possible. A thorough introduction explains in more detail what mushrooms are and how they grow, and gives practical advice on how to use microscopic features to assist in species recognition. A concise glossary explains all scientific and technical terms used in the book.

The latest in DK's well-done series of nature handbooks provides concise text and clear photographs. A thorough introduction explains what mushrooms are and how they grow. (New Orleans Times-Picayune)

More than 500 mushrooms from around the world illustrated with 2,300 full color photos...the DK layouts are splendid. (Virginian Pilot)

Smithsonian Handbooks are the most visually appealing guides on the natural world in the book marketplace. Featuring more than 500 full-color illustrations and photographs, along with detailed annotations, Smithsonian Handbooks make identification easy and accurate.

Thomas Laessoe studied at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in London, and now teaches at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark. He has undertaken extensive field research in South America and is co-author of The Mushroom Book, also published by Dorling Kindersley. Gary Lincoff has collected mushrooms throughout the US, Canada, and Mexico, and has written extensively on mushroom poisoning and identification. He is past president of the North American Mycological Association and co-founder of the annual Telluride Mushroom Conference.

Cap & Stem Fungi with Decurrent Gills; Cap & Stem Fungi with Adnexed to Adnate Gills; Cap & Stem Fungi with Free Gills; Cap Fungi with Stem Off-Center or Absent; Cap & Stem Fungi with Pores; Honeycomb-, Brain-, or Saddle-Like Cap; Bracket or Skinlike-Fung