All mushrooms are cool, but the ones discussed in 100 Cool Mushrooms are especially cool. Authors Michael Kuo and Andy Methven cover a broad spectrum of notable North American mushrooms: from common fungi that are widely distributed and frequently found, to rare mushrooms that are not found in field guides; from the beautiful to the ugly (and even disgusting).

Each is described and shown, including its ecology and physical features. Inside, you'll find mushrooms such as:

Phallus rubicundus, a stinkhorn that in certain areas appears to be spreading on wood chips sold as commercial mulch. Now you might just find it in your backyard.

Cordyceps militaris, a little orange club fungus that grows in insects, then explodes from their bodies.

Piptoporus betulinus, a mushroom commonly found on birch trees, was found carefully packed in the belongings of the Tyrolean Iceman. Archaeologists speculate that he used it for medicinal purposes.

. . . and 97 more!

Dr. Michael Kuo, the principal developer of MushroomExpert.Com, is an English teacher in Illinois and an amateur mycologist. He is the author of Morels and 100 Edible Mushrooms.

Dr. Andrew Methven is Professor of Mycology and Chair of the Biology Department at Eastern Illinois University.

From grassland fairy circles to alpine nano-shrooms, the Rocky Mountain region invites mushroom hunters to range though a mycological nirvana. Accessible and scientifically up-to-date, 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.

Fusing general interest in mushrooming with serious scholarship, Mushrooms of the Midwest describes and illustrates over five hundred of the region's mushroom species. From the cold conifer bogs of northern Michigan to the steamy oak forests of Missouri, the book offers a broad cross-section of the fungi, edible and not, that can be found growing in the Midwest’s diverse ecosystems.

With hundreds of color illustrations, Mushrooms of the Midwest is ideal for amateur and expert mushroomers alike. Michael Kuo and Andrew Methven provide identification keys and thorough descriptions. The authors discuss the DNA revolution in mycology and its consequences for classification and identification, as well as the need for well-documented contemporary collections of mushrooms.

Unlike most field guides, Mushrooms of the Midwest includes an extensive introduction to the use of a microscope in mushroom identification. In addition, Kuo and Methven give recommendations for scientific mushroom collecting, with special focus on ecological data and guidelines for preserving specimens. Lists of amateur mycological associations and herbaria of the Midwest are also included. A must-have for all mushroom enthusiasts!