Collins Fungi Guide

The sixth title in the bestselling Collins Guide series, this book covers the fungi of the British Isles, with considerable relevance for Europe and the wider temperate world.

Leading mycological artists have been specially commissioned to ensure accurate, detailed illustrations. Where possible, species are described and illustrated on the same page, with up-to-date authoritative text aiding identification. Nearly 2,400 species are illustrated in full colour, with detailed notes on how to correctly identify them, including details of similar, confusing species. Illustrations of young and mature fruiting bodies are included where necessary, and key features are highlighted for quick and easy reference.

Written by one of Europe's leading mycologists and horticultural scientists, Stefan Buczacki, and illustrated by two of the world's leading natural history illustrators, Chris Shields and Denys Ovenden, this is the ultimate field guide for mushroom and toadstool lovers.

Reviews

‘What a great book. It adds a needed publication for the amateur's library which goes beyond other field guides. The illustrations of crust fungi are excellent and it is a pleasure to see them receive their rightful place in a fungal manual. I am sure you will stimulate many to look at the lower Basidiomycetes in a different light and overcome that fear of looking for and at them. Great stuff! […] A book which should be in lots of naturalists’ hands, not just field mycologists. I would gladly recommend [it] to anyone attending my forays and to my apprentices.’

Prof Roy Watling MBE, DSc., FRSE

[Former Head of Mycology and Plant Pathology and sometime Acting Regius Keeper at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh]

‘There are some great images here to delight us […] this book will bring hundreds of new, rare or unusual species to the attention of the general reader, with the added bonus of their up-to-date names.’ Field Mycology journal (British Mycological Society)

Praise for Stefan Buczacki’s previous titles:

‘An excellent book which is likely to remain the standard work’
The Garden

‘By far the most comprehensive and authoritative of its kind’
Financial Times

‘Seminal’
The Sunday Times

About the author

Professor Stefan Buczacki is Past-President of the British Mycological Society and holder of its Benefactors’ Medal and also one of the country’s best known horticultural writers and broadcasters. His extensive practical knowledge is underpinned by his scientific expertise – he gained an international reputation as a plant pathologist before leaving full-time research to become freelance in 1984. He has published many thousands of newspaper and magazine articles and over fifty gardening and natural history books, including Collins New Generation Guide to Mushrooms and Toadstools and New Naturalist Garden Natural History.