Mushrooms of the Gulf Coast States

Alan E. Bessette is a distinguished emeritus professor of biology at Utica College of Syracuse University. A professional mycologist, he has authored or coauthored more than twenty-five books, including Edible Wild Mushrooms of North America.Arleen Bessette is a mycologist and botanical photographer, winning multiple awards in the North American Mycological Association's photography competition. She has authored or coauthored eighteen books, including Mushrooms of the Southeastern United States.A retired chemist, David P. Lewis is currently a research associate with the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago and has served as president of the Gulf States Mycological Society since 1998. In his mycological papers, Lewis has described many species new to science, several of which have been named for him.

A must-have for any mushroom hunter in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, or Florida…this book is unique in its circumscribed geographic coverage and its inclusion of 1000-plus species…The expert authors collaborated with a large number of mushroom enthusiasts to compile this user-friendly guide. (CHOICE) [Mushrooms of the Gulf Coast States] is a very valuable contribution to our knowledge of mushrooms from a region of the USA that has previously been largely ignored. (Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas) As with all books published in recent years by the Bessettes and their collaborators, [Mushrooms of the Gulf Coast States] has wonderful photos. The Bessettes have done a tremendous job of capturing the beauty and diversity of the Gulf Coast macrofungi with a wide array of high-quality pictures that typically show each mushroom from several angles. Most importantly, this book compiles the descriptions of most of the common fungi in my region in one place for the first time.…I highly recommend Mushrooms of the Gulf Coast States to any mycologist or mycophile who plans to travel to the Gulf Coast region and wants a guidebook to help them to enjoy our local fungi. (Inoculum)

• PrefaceAcknowledgmentsIntroduction Geographic Area Covered by This BookWhy Collect and Study Wild Mushrooms?Mushroom Structure and FunctionCollecting and Documenting Wild MushroomsMaking a Spore PrintNotes on the Descriptions of Illustrated SpeciesHow to Use This BookMushroom Identification ProcedureColor Key to the Major Groups of FungiSpecies Descriptions and Illustrations Bird’s Nest FungiBoletesCarbon, Crust, Cushion, and Parchment FungiChanterelles and Similar FungiCorals and CauliflowersCordyceps, Tolypocladium, and Similar FungiCup FungiEarth Tongues and Earth ClubsFiber FansGilled MushroomsHypomyces and Other Parasitic FungiJelly FungiMorels, False Morels, and Similar FungiPolyporesPuffballs, Earthballs, Earthstars, and Similar FungiStinkhornsTooth FungiTruffles and Other Hypogeous FungiAppendix A. Microscopic Examination of FungiAppendix B. Chemical Reagents and Mushroom IdentificationAppendix C. Mushrooms for the TableGlossaryReferences and ResourcesA Note on the AuthorsPhoto CreditsIndex to Common NamesIndex to Scientific Names