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onegreenhill
Joined: 12 Sep 2006 Posts: 17
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tahir
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 45389 Location: Essex
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dougal
Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Posts: 7184 Location: South Kent
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Posted: Mon Oct 16, 06 11:54 am Post subject: |
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A single book ain't the answer.
You'll want more than one, to cross check.
Having photos *and* botannical illustrations (paintings) is *very* useful.
As Tahir says, an excellent thing to do is to join an organised (led) foray - or two, or more, led by different people.
Doing a Google search for Foray and your county (and any adjacent ones) should be a good start.
The book most people would think 'best' is probably Roger Phillips.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mushrooms-Great-Britain-Europe-Original/dp/0330264419/
However, IMHO, its a trifle intimidating for beginners as it doesn't really prioritise things.
As a beginner's guide, telling you what you really *need* to know, I think this one is pretty damn good: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Edible-Mushrooms-Collins-How-ID/dp/000219984X/
This site's Search will turn up several alternatives...
Last edited by dougal on Mon Oct 16, 06 11:56 am; edited 1 time in total |
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alex.swann
Joined: 27 Mar 2006 Posts: 47
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onegreenhill
Joined: 12 Sep 2006 Posts: 17
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tahir
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 45389 Location: Essex
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KILLITnGRILLIT
Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 894 Location: Looking at a screen in the front room
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Jonnyboy
Joined: 29 Oct 2004 Posts: 23956 Location: under some rain.
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cab
Joined: 01 Nov 2004 Posts: 32429
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dougal
Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Posts: 7184 Location: South Kent
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Posted: Mon Oct 16, 06 6:30 pm Post subject: |
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cab wrote: |
... Collins isn't a good guide on its own... |
Collins publish (or published) a large number of mushroom titles. I presume you are referring to the small-format Collins GEM "pocket guide" by Harding rather than the "Collins How to ID" (by Harding et al) that I mentioned above?
Amazon UK also list Mushrooms and Toadstools (Collins Wild Guide), Mushrooms and Toadstools (Collins Nature Guides) , Collins Gem Mushrooms and Toadstools Photoguide (Gem Photoguide), Collins Fungi Guide: The Most Complete Field Guide to the Mushrooms and Toadstools of Britain and Europe, Field Guide to Mushrooms and Toadstools (Collins Field Guide), Mushrooms of Britain and Europe (Collins Wildlife Trust Guides) and Mushrooms and Toadstools (Collins Watch Guides) and even a Collins Guide to Mushrooms and Toadstools (Collins Pocket Guides) by Buczacki...
Speaking of "Collins" as by implication "a" single guide ain't the most specific or helpful that you have ever been!
And Michael and Peter Jordan, between them have 19 mushroom books listed on Amazon UK - which one of those were you referring to as "Jordan"?
Have you managed to have a look at Collins "How to IDentify Edible Mushrooms" yet? (It must be in Heffers ...)
I think that one is good for beginners because
- it concentrates on the main edibles and nasties - its focus and purpose is to help you find and safely identify specifically edible mushrooms, not to put a name to each and every one you might find.
- it is arranged by habitat
- it has a month histogram thingy for each mushroom to indicate its seasonality
- it specifically groups together and explains the distinctions between the things that you are most likely to confuse
- IMHO the illustrations are excellent for their purpose
It ain't comprehensive; but it ain't intimidating.
Its designed to be helpful for a complete beginner.
Its useful immediately.
And its pretty cheap.
Phillips is excellent when you want to check some detail to confirm an ID. Its not so good for helping you get started, or to guide you as to what you ought to be looking for.
Roger's a really nice bloke, uses Macs, and produces great books (plug for "Wild Food" specifically). Nevertheless I do feel that the fact that his book is detailed and comprehensive enough to satisfy Cab (much of the time) should also be taken as indicating that this is obviously not an introductory-level text. |
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dpack
Joined: 02 Jul 2005 Posts: 45384 Location: yes
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cab
Joined: 01 Nov 2004 Posts: 32429
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Posted: Mon Oct 16, 06 7:23 pm Post subject: |
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dougal wrote: |
Collins publish (or published) a large number of mushroom titles. I presume you are referring to the small-format Collins GEM "pocket guide" by Harding rather than the "Collins How to ID" (by Harding et al) that I mentioned above? |
Could equally apply to either, although I was referring to the latter; I don't like it, its just not one that I've ever found useful.
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...Collins Guide to Mushrooms and Toadstools (Collins Pocket Guides) by Buczacki... |
An excellent work, very handy written descriptions in there, haven't seen it for a while though.
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And Michael and Peter Jordan, between them have 19 mushroom books listed on Amazon UK - which one of those were you referring to as "Jordan"?
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That would be Michael Jordans 'Encyclopedia of Fungi of Britain and Europe.
Quote: |
Have you managed to have a look at Collins "How to IDentify Edible Mushrooms" yet? (It must be in Heffers ...)
I think that one is good for beginners because
- it concentrates on the main edibles and nasties - its focus and purpose is to help you find and safely identify specifically edible mushrooms, not to put a name to each and every one you might find.
- it is arranged by habitat
- it has a month histogram thingy for each mushroom to indicate its seasonality
- it specifically groups together and explains the distinctions between the things that you are most likely to confuse
- IMHO the illustrations are excellent for their purpose
It ain't comprehensive; but it ain't intimidating.
Its designed to be helpful for a complete beginner.
Its useful immediately.
And its pretty cheap.
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Found a copy in Borders. Have to say, I didn't like it at all, largely for all the same reasons as you liked it. I didn't like that it was arranged by habitat, I didn't like the illustrations, and I didn't like the little histograms telling you when you'd find it. I also didn't think that the range of shrooms in there was sufficient, or that the written information was enough.
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Phillips is excellent when you want to check some detail to confirm an ID. Its not so good for helping you get started, or to guide you as to what you ought to be looking for.
Roger's a really nice bloke, uses Macs, and produces great books (plug for "Wild Food" specifically). Nevertheless I do feel that the fact that his book is detailed and comprehensive enough to satisfy Cab (much of the time) should also be taken as indicating that this is obviously not an introductory-level text. |
It was MY introductory level text. I'd say that in combination with either Phillips wild food book or with Richard Mabeys 'food for free', its the ideal text. |
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Blacksmith
Joined: 25 Jan 2005 Posts: 5025 Location: Berkshire
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pizza
Joined: 14 Oct 2006 Posts: 48 Location: London
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Stewy
Joined: 17 Oct 2005 Posts: 1453 Location: Berkshire
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