Chicago Botanic Garden

Education — Lenhardt Library

Current Books & Book Reviews

PHOTO: bookcover

Matt Trappe, Frank Evans, and James M Trappe.
Field Guide to North American Truffles: Hunting, Identifying, and Enjoying the World's Most Prized Fungi.
Berkeley, Calif.: Ten Speed Press, 2007.
paper, 136 pp., ISBN 978–1–58008–862–6, $16.95.

The beauty and much of the value of this little book is in the abundant photographs of these underground forest fungi. The authors describe truffles succinctly and explain where to find them as well as their value to both trees and humans. The vast majority of this work is dedicated to individual descriptions of a rich variety of fungi. Each profile includes a scientific name, group, season, distribution, habitat, spores, features, and significantly desirability rating (or DR). Some fungi earn a DR of "unknown" while others are rated "delicious" or "insipid." At the end of this handy guide you will find a glossary, meanings of scientific names, references, and an index. Overall, anyone interested in fungi will find this book an invaluable guide.

— Marilyn K. Alaimo, garden writer and volunteer, Chicago Botanic Garden.