Book Review: Mushrooms of the Upper Midwest (3rd edition) by Teresa Marrone and Kathy Yerich

Mushrooms of the Upper Midwest
by Teresa Marrone and Kathy Yerich (579.6 Mar)

For several years, my wife and I have had unpleasant infestations of thousands of large, ugly mushrooms under the Mountain Ash tree in our front yard, and I’ve been curious to learn more about the particular species of mushroom we’ve had to deal with. I had a found a few things online but wasn’t trusting that the information was completely accurate. So…when I saw this book on the New Books display at the downtown library, I grabbed it — hoping that it would help me identify my annual nemesis.

Not only did it quickly answer my ongoing question — the Ash Bolete (page 184), but I found numerous other mushrooms identified throughout the book, which I’ve personally seen on walks and hikes, both here in Nebraska and in the mountains of Colorado. The book opens with a section dealing with broad information about all types of mushrooms, then the majority of the book is broken down into ten mushroom categories. Each unique mushroom is given a two-page spread — the first page is a detailed description of the mushroom, and the second is photographic examples. The descriptions include things like: Habitat, physical Description, Spore Print, Season it can be found, Other Names (including the scientific identification), Compare (details distinguishing each from similar mushrooms), and miscellaneous notes.

Poisonous and/or inedible mushrooms are clearly identified — in the case of poisonous, there’s a skull&crossbones. In the case of mushrooms that are prized by cooks, there are notes to that effect.

The back of the book includes a bibliography to related resources, an extensive glossary of terminology used throughout the book, and a large index. According to the introduction, this book covers “the upper midwest”, including North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan and Indiana. However, I’ve already identified at least a dozen or more mushroom species here in the Lincoln area. I may buy this one myself!.

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Field Guide to Mushrooms by the National Audubon Society, Mushrooms & Other Fungi of the Midcontinental United States by D.M. Huffman, L.H. Tiffany and G. Knaphus or Weeds of Nebraska and the Great Plains by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture.]

[ official Teresa Marrone Twitter feed ] | [ official web site of Kathy Yerich, mushroom enthusiast ]

Recommended by Scott C.
Bennett Martin Public Library – Public Service

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