Fungi Decoded: Adventures in the Mycosphere--Encounters with Thirty Fungi - Paperback

by Britt A. Bunyard (Author)

Explore the kingdom of fungi like never before! This uniquely interactive book pairs an accessible overview of Earth's most enigmatic organisms with a spinning wheel that reveals quick facts about 30 different species of mushrooms.

Fungi Decoded is a visual celebration of the Fungus Kingdom, offering an introduction to mycology in its first half before diving into individual profiles of various diverse and astonishing mushrooms.

This unique book features a spinning wheel built into the cover with fascinating information about thirty different species of mushrooms. Spin the wheel to see key facts at a glance, then flip to the corresponding mushroom's page for in-depth information about the species, including its morphogroup, distribution, habitat, and substrate type. The book offers a tour of the world's most intriguing mushrooms, spotlighting well-known fungi such as the Fly Agaric as well as morphological oddities such as Stinkhorns and Bird's Nest Fungi.

Informed by the latest research, and mycologist Britt Bunyard's decades-long relationship with fungi across the globe, Fungi Decoded also explores the most intriguing questions at the heart of these extraordinarily strange organisms. What makes some fungi glow? Which fungi strangle nematodes? How have fungi changed the course of human history? What happens if you step into a fairy ring of mushrooms? Why do some fungi grow in dung?

Taking a new spin on the planet's most fascinating life forms, Fungi Decoded is perfect for both new fungus fans and seasoned mycophiles.

Note: This book is not meant for identifying edible mushrooms.

Author Biography

Britt A. Bunyard, PhD, is the founder, publisher, and editor-in-chief of the mycology journal Fungi. Britt has worked academically as a mycologist his entire career, teaching a number of university courses and writing scientific articles for many research journals and popular science magazines. He has served as an editor for mycological and entomological research journals and mushroom guide books. A popular evangelizer on all things fungal, Britt has been featured on NPR's "All Things Considered", PBS's NOVA and Wisconsin Foodie television programs, and in The Atlantic, Vogue, Forbes, Saveur, Women's World, and others. He serves as executive director of the Telluride Mushroom Festival. He co-authored Amanitas of North America, Mushrooms and Macrofungi of Ohio and Midwestern States, and The Beginner's Guide to Mushrooms.