A Guide to Kansas Mushrooms

A unique crossroads for mushrooms, Kansas is populated by a blend of northerners and southerners, serves as a western frontier for easterners, and harbors a few West Coast natives.

In this book, the authors offer a myriad of how-to's when stalking and using mushrooms, from identifying an Old Man in the Woods to sauteing a tasty Volvariella bombycina. Besides providing both the Latin and common names and descriptions of 235 species found in the state, they have included 150 color photographs of common and not so common species, a nontechnical key for identification, a calendar of fungal fruiting seasons, and a list of all 548 species that have been located in Kansas. And for those rusty on their Latin, they've included a guide to the origin and pronunciation of Latin names.

Mushroom hunters will find a number of useful tips in this book, whether they want to eat their quarry, photograph it, or examine it under a microscope. And to add richness to the sport, the authors have included an overview of Kansas geography and climate, a history of mycology in the state, and practical advice for forays in the field.

With something for the novice, the advanced amateur, and even the professional mycologist, A Guide to Kansas Mushrooms provides general explanations and advice, as well as descriptions of mushrooms found not only in this state but throughout the country, particularly east of the Rockies.

This book is part of the Kansas Nature Guides series.