Mushrooms are loved, despised, feared and
misunderstood. They have been a familiar part of nature
throughout human history and occupy a special place
in our consciousness. Now in paperback,
Mushrooms
introduces the mythology and science of the spectacular
array of fungi that produce mushrooms, the history of our
interactions with these curious and beautiful organisms,
and the ways that humans use mushrooms as food,
medicine and recreational drugs.
Mushrooms release so many spores into the atmosphere
that they may affect local weather conditions and promote
rainfall. Poisonous mushrooms were described by classical
writers and edible species were important in Roman
cuisine. Mushrooms became the objects of scientific
study in the seventeenth century. Pioneers of mushroom
science have included paragons of eccentricity, and their
remarkable stories are celebrated in this book.