Fascinated by Fungi: Exploring the Majesty and Mystery, Facts and Fantasy of the Quirkiest Kingdom on Earth

Preface 8
Acknowledgements 9

Chapter 1 - Kingdom of the Underworld 10
Chapter 2 - Breeding Habits and Feeding Habitats 36
Chapter 3 - Wood, Trees and Woodlands 82
Chapter 4 - Friends of the Forest (Ectomycorrhizal Fungi) 140
Chapter 5 - Tree Parasites and other Hangers-on 214
Chapter 6 - The Rest of the Rotters 244
Chapter 7 - Grass, Grasses and Grasslands 312
Chapter 8 - Grassland Fungi 342
Chapter 9 - Mushrooms on the Margin 374
Chapter 10 - Forays for Food, Fun and Photography 386

Appendix I - Glossary of Mycological Terms 416
Appendix II - Meaning of Scientific Names of Fungi Species 420
Appendix III - Citation of Mycological Authorities 424
Appendix IV - Other Fungi Information Sources 429

Species Index - Scientific Names 431
Species Index - Common Names 437
General Index 441
Picture Credits 442

A clear, logical guide to a crucial part of our life support system; the kind of book that most people (including me) really need.
- Roger Thomas, Chief Executive, Countryside Council for Wales

"Sets a new standard that I would hope other writers will emulate."
- Daily Telegraph

"Best of the bunch."
- The Times

"An absolute must for anyone interested in this fascinating subject. I rate this superb book at 10 out of 10."
- Martin James, BBC Wildlife and Countryside Correspondent.

Pat O'Reilly's fascination with fungi stretches back more than 40 years and has taken him to many countries; but, as he says, there is a special satisfaction in finding and identifying beautiful fungi close to home.

Writing and broadcasting on wildlife and countryside topics for more than 30 years, Pat is the author of more than 20 books and hundreds of articles. With his wife Sue, he produced and maintains the First Nature website, which receives up to a million visits a year and hundreds of enquiries via an extensive Fungi section.

Pat, an active conservationist, has chaired and served on several advisory committees and special commissions. He is a member of the Council of CCW (the Countryside Council for Wales), where his special interest is in fungi conservation (he is a Member of the British Mycological Society) and the management of National Nature Reserves in Wales.

For his environmental work Pat O'Reilly was awarded an MBE in 2003.