A Field Guide to Mushrooms of the Carolinas

Approx. 632 pp., 6 x 9, 1035 color plates, 20 drawings, appends., bibl., index

Paperback ISBN: 978-1-4696-8552-6
Published: May 2025
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-4696-3853-9
Published: April 2018
E-book EPUB ISBN: 978-1-4696-3854-6
Published: February 2018
E-book PDF ISBN: 979-8-8908-5159-8
Published: February 2018

Southern Gateways Guides

Paperback Available May 2025, but pre-order your copy today!

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Identifying mushrooms in the wild can present an enticing challenge. Taking on unbelievable forms, some are delicious, others are deadly, but the edibility status of the majority remains unknown. In this revised and expanded edition of the classic, best-selling A Field Guide to Mushrooms of the Carolinas, readers will find over 1,000 mushroom species described in clear, simple terms, with color photographs showcasing their unique combinations of features.

What's included:

· Information on mushroom edibility and toxicity

· Basic information on spore characteristics

· Updated nomenclature and taxonomy based on the latest genetic analyses

· An overview of the Carolinas' role in the history of American mycology

· Over 1,000 color photographs of Carolina mushrooms

The unusually large number of described species makes this book a must-have for experienced mushroom hunters as well as those newly interested in mycology. Here, at last, is the definitive field guide for mushrooms in North and South Carolina, from the mountains to the coast, presented in a single portable volume.

About the Authors

Alan E. Bessette, professional mycologist and emeritus professor of biology, has published numerous papers and more than thirty books.
For more information about Alan E. Bessette, visit the Author Page.

Arleen R. Bessette, mycologist and botanical photographer, has published several papers and more than twenty books.
For more information about Arleen R. Bessette, visit the Author Page.

Michael W. Hopping, retired physician and author of several books, is also an award-winning mycophotographer.
For more information about Michael W. Hopping, visit the Author Page.

Reviews

Praise for the first edition--

“The unusually large number of described species makes this book a must-have for experienced mushroom hunters as well as beginners. Here, at last, is the field guide for North and South Carolina mushrooms, from the mountains to the coast, presented in one portable volume.”—Southeastern Naturalist