The top five books to get into fungi

Jassy Drakulic gives us the lowdown on the best books out there to identify fungi for yourself

Ever wanted to dive into the world of fungi? Whether you are an enthusiast or just curious and don’t know where to start, all you need is a little guidance. No book contains every fungal species out there, but RHS Senior Plant Pathologist and Resident Mycologist Jassy Drakulic has picked her favourite titles that will help you explore more about the secret world around us.

Check out the RHS libraries’ catalogue to borrow them as e-books, audiobooks or physical copies.

1) Fungi of Temperate Europe (two volumes)

By Thomas Laessoe and Jens H. Petersson

If you’ve caught ‘fungi fever’, you will want to invest in a pair of these exquisite and up-to-date guidebooks. Instead of tricky keys, the authors have developed fungi wheels, combining photographs, short descriptors and spore print colours to help identify fungi from many major groups. Nearly 3,000 species are described using over 10,000 images, making this pair stand-out winners for the combination of dazzling imagery and scientific accuracy. The fungi wheels on their own are available for free download here.

2) Mushrooms

By Roger Philips

Featuring superbly clear photographs of mushrooms on a plain background and arranged to showcase all angles and characteristics, this classic book is a favourite among experienced mycologists and beginners. There is no detailed key, just a visual index to the group categories – corresponding to sections of the book – to delve into and find a match for your found fungus.

3) Collins Fungi Guide

By Stefan Buczacki

With over 2,400 species descriptions and several visual keys to follow, this book claims to be the most comprehensive field guide to the mushrooms and toadstools of Britain and Ireland out there. The key style is more like a contents page with thumbnail illustrations, serving as a shortcut to flicking through the book. In the main text, similar species are shown side by side on each page for easy comparison between look-alikes.

4) Philip’s Guide to Mushrooms and Toadstools of Britain and Northern Europe

By Geoffrey Kibby

Kibby’s informative guide for beginners contains beautiful and accurate illustrations of 400 species, with handy labels that emphasize key features. Uncommon in entry-level fungi guides, Kibby includes an identification key. If you’re unsure which group your fungus belongs to, you can follow a series of questions about its characteristics, and the key will guide you to the correct group.

5) Collins Complete Guide to British Mushrooms and Toadstools

By Paul Sterry and Barry Hughes

Affordable and accessible, this photographic guide features nearly 2,000 of the most common fungal species found across the mainland and islands of Britain and Ireland. Identify your finds by matching them to the photos and descriptions of fungal groups in the visual index, with additional support from a photographic glossary of terms.

RHS Science holds numerous talks and demonstrations at RHS Hilltop, the home of gardening science. Check out the RHS Science’s What’s On page for some interesting upcoming talks on fungi.

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