Hello Dear Friends,
Here is an update of mushroom books that work in Montana, circa 2007. Be aware that name changes occur regularly, and the older books will have different names from those more recent books. Many great books are not included in this list because they may have limited usefulness in Montana.
Mushrooms and Truffles of the Southwest
Jack S States
U of Arizona, 1990
Shows the surprising diversity of fungi that live in the diverse desert, riparian, conifer forest, and subalpine habitats of the American southwest. Good photos and descriptions of mushrooms and truffles and a few common lichens and slime molds too.
Mushrooms
for Color
Miriam Rice
Mad River Press 1980.
The book that introduced America to the concept of dyeing fabric with mushrooms. Miriam also hosted a papermaking workshop years ago that got a whole wave of people involved in papermaking projects, resulting in dozens of workshops and demonstrations hosted by WMMA members.
Mushrooms of Colorado
by Vera Stucky Emerson
Denver Botanical Garden 1997
Good reference for local mushrooms on both sides of the divide. Some 200 species of the more noticeable and common macrofungi, modest and adequate key to groups of fungi, good glossary.
Books by Paul Stamets:
The MUSHROOM CULTIVATOR
Considered the bible of indoor cultivation technology upon its publication in the 80s, this book caused further innovations and many new techniques and recipes since.
Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms
Over 500 pages of photos, recipes, and procedures for growing and fruiting 25 species of higher fungi. This book shows fungi on a variety of substrates, and has many innovative approaches to tissue culture and media selection. Good discussion of mushroom laboratory and growing environment. Good indexes, bibliography, appendices, and references.
Psilocybin Mushrooms of the World
A beautifully illustrated guide to the major Psilocybin genera, with dozens of species and their photos from around the world. Discussions of habitat & ecology of fungi.
MYCELIUM RUNNING
A visionary book by the man who would reconnect fungi and American culture. If indeed fungi can save the planet, this is the handbook of how.
Books by Orson and Hope Miller:
Mushrooms
in
Color
Dutton, 1980
"How to know them, Where to find them, What to avoid" 130 species of the most common and easily identifiable edibles and avoidables. Good photos, good treatment of terminology, glossary, indexes, bibliography.
North American Mushrooms
Falcon Press, 2006
A great general guide for beginners, useful all around the continent. Over 1800 species discussed, over 1000 illustrated. Good discussion of microscopic features, mushroom poisons, well illustrated, good descriptions, beginners keys, glossary, bibliography.
Books by Nancy Smith Weber
A Morel Hunter's Companion
The original investigation of morels in their environment, the baseline for those studying the morel.
A Field Guide to Southern Mushrooms
with AH Smith
A good general guide to fungi in the southern Rockies and the southeast US
Books About South American Mushrooms
Fungi of the Andean-Patagonian Forests
IJ Gamundi and E Horak Vazquez Mazzini editors.
Great introductory book, discussions of harvesting, drying, identification of the unique fungi of this area. English edition available.
Macrohongos de Costa Rica Mushrooms
A bilingual survey of several common mushrooms from several tropical habitats. good photos, discussion, basic key.
Non-Gilled Hymenomycetes
by Edmund Tylutki
U of Idaho Press, 1987
A good accounting of the many types of non-gilled fungi found in our part of the PNW. This book is a great intro to mycology, with a good glossary, indexes, and straightforward keys. A valuable book for any mycology student in Idaho or Montana.
Mushrooms of Idaho and the Pacific Northwest Vol 1 Discomycetes
Edmund Tylutki
University of Idaho Press, Moscow ID 1993
A thorough treatment of local morel-like mushrooms. B&W photos over 120 species described. He also has a vol 2 which I believe is the Basidiomycetes
Plants of Southern Interior British Columbia
Parish,Coupe,Lloyd 1996 BC
Ministry of Forests and Lone Pine Press
No mushrooms, but good for many local vascular plants and lichens. Simple color-coded key. Paperback sized
A Field Guide to Western Mushrooms
Alexander H. Smith 1975
Univ. of Michigan Press.
A standard field guide, Smith worked in our area, but many names have been changed since this was published. Color photos 201 species described. Limited, precise keys. Unusual long narrow shaped book
Mushrooms Demystified
David Arora
10 Speed Press 1986
nearly 2000 species between 2 covers, color and B& W photos. While dealing principally with California species, he includes many of our local fungi as well. Broad but somewhat permeable keys. A large and thick book.
Macrolichens of the Pacific Northwest
Bruce McCune & Linda Geiser
1997 Oregon State Univ. Press
A beautiful and concise book describing most all the lichens found in our area, as well as many that are found only on the coast. good key
The Savory Wild Mushroom
Daniel Stuntz 1987
Univ. of Washington Press
200 species, color photos, good discussion of poisons, ecology, and cooking. A good guide for beginners, very little jargon, no key,
Mushrooms of North America
Roger Phillips
1991 Little, Brown & Co.
The British naturalist photographed over 1000 species of mushrooms at forays around the USA & then went home to voucher the specimens, which explains some unusual names found here. Good for beginners, a simple photo key guide. Large format
Peterson Field Guide MUSHROOMS
Kent & Vera McKnight
1987 Houghton Mifflin Co.
A thorough introduction to fungi; could serve as a text book. 430 species drawn color plates. Paperback sized. No key, good discussions of ecology, cooking.
Other great Mushroom Books
Morelling
by Margaret Evans
The Fungal Pharmacy:
Medicinal Mushrooms of Western Canada
Robert Rogers
Prairie Deva Press
Box 75179
Ritchie PO
Edmonton Alberta Canada T6E 6K1