From grassland fairy circles to alpine nano-shrooms, the Rocky Mountain region invites mushroom hunters to range through a mycological nirvana.
The Essential Guide to Rocky Mountain Mushrooms by Habitat is the definitive reference for uncovering post-rain rarities and kitchen favorites alike. Dazzling full-color photos highlight the beauty of hundreds of species. Easy-to-navigate entries offer essential descriptions and tips for identifying mushrooms, including each species' edibility, odor, taste, and rumored medicinal properties. The authors organize the mushrooms according to habitat zone. This ecology-centered approach places each species among surrounding flora and fauna and provides a trove of fascinating insights on how these charismatic fungi interact with the greater living world.
Accessible and scientifically up-to-date, The Essential Guide to Rocky Mountain Mushrooms by Habitat is a singular reference for exploring an iconic American wildland.
Cathy Cripps is a mycologist and associate professor in the Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology at Montana State University, where she teaches and does research on fungi. She is the editor of Fungi in Forest Ecosystems: Systematics, Diversity, and Ecology.
Vera Evenson is curator of the Sam Mitchel Herbarium of Fungi at the Denver Botanical Gardens. She is the author of Mushrooms of Colorado and the Southern Rocky Mountains and past president of the Colorado Mycological Society.
Michael Kuo is a professor of English at Eastern Illinois University, the coauthor of Mushrooms of the Midwest, and principal developer of the website MushroomExpert.
"What a wonderful, engaging book. Beautifully written, informative, and based on decades of field experience. I want this book in my library!"
– David Rust, President, North American Mycological Association
"A truly significant contribution to the field. The presence of mushroom species unique to this region and not covered in mushroom field guides will make this book desirable to both professional and amateur mycologists."
– Michael W. Beug, coauthor of Ascomycete Fungi of North America: A Mushroom Reference Guide