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NEW JERSEY MYCOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION
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USEFUL BOOKS FOR NJ
"The Ones We Use Most Often"

There are many other books available; this is just a list of the ones we use most often. ​Below is a quick summary list of the books highlighted later. Most of the newer books have been reviewed in the club newsletter NJMA News.
GENERAL BOOKS
  • Mushrooms of the Northeastern United States and Eastern Canada, by Timothy J. Baroni, Published by Timber Press, 2017
  • Mushrooms of Northeast North America: Midwest to New England, by George Barron, Published by Lone Pine, 1999
  • Mushrooms of Northeastern North America, by Alan F. Bessette, Arleen R. Bessette and David R. Fischer,  Published by Syracuse University Press, 1997
  • Mushrooms and Other Fungi of North America, by Roger Phillips, Published by Firefly Books;, 2010
  • Mushrooms of the Southeast, by Todd F. Elliot and Stephen L. Stephenson, Published by Timber Press, 2018
  • Mushrooms of North America, by Roger Phillips, Published by Little Brown & Co, 1991
  • Mushrooms of West Virginia and the Central Appalachians, by William C. Roody, Published by University Press of Kentucky, 2003
  • National Audubon Field Guide to North American Mushrooms, by Gary Lincoff, Published by Knopf, 1981
SPECIALTY BOOKS
  • Amanitas of North America, by Britt A. Bunyard and Jay Justice, Published by FUNGI Press, 2020
  • Ascomycete Fungi of North America:, by Michael Beug, Alan E. Bessette and Arleen R. Bessette, Published by University of Texas Press, 2014
  • Boletes of Eastern North America, by Alan E. Bessette, William C. Roody, and Arleen R. Bessette, Published by Syracuse University Press, 2017
  • Milk Mushrooms of North America, by Alan E. Bessette, David E. Harris and Arleen R. Bessette, Published by Syracuse University Press; 2009
  • Polypores and Similar Fungi of Eastern and Central North America, by Alan E. Bessette, Dianna Smith, and Arleen R. Bessette, Published by University of Chicago Press, 2021
  • Tricholomas of North America, by Alan E. Bessette, Arleen R. Bessette, William C. Roody , and Steven A. Trudell. Published by University of Texas Press, 2013
  • Waxcap Mushrooms of Eastern North America, by Alan E. Bessette, William C. Roody, Walter E. Sturgeon, and Arlene R. Bessette. Published by Syracuse University Press, 2012.
BOOKS USEFUL FOR CRUSTS AND RESUPINATES
  • Corticicaceae s.l. Fungi Europaei 12, by A. Bernicchia and S.P. Gorjon, Published by Candusso Edizioni, 2010
  • Fungi of Switzerland 2: Aphyllophorales (non-gilled fungi), by  J. Breitenbach, Published by Mykologia, 1986
  • The Corticiaceae of North Europe (8 Volumes),  by Kurt Hjorstmam and et al. , Published by Fungiflora, 1973, (Available as pdfs on mycoweb) 
  • ​Fungi of Temperate Europe (2 Volumes), by T. Lassoe and J.H.  Peterson, Published by Princeton University Press, 2019 (See review in NJMA News 50-3)

A Good First Choice

Mushrooms of Northeastern US and Eastern Canada book cover
See Book Review in NJMA News 47-5. It has the newest genus and species names that were available prior to its publication.  If this book is not available at your local book store, ask for it. They should carry this book.
Mushrooms of Northeast North America book cover
My favorite is Barron’s Mushrooms of North America. This guide covers a wider variety of species than most guidebooks: lots of ascomycetes, slime molds, and bracket fungi. I like the feature of keys by spore color for gilled mushrooms, and the quick guide on the back cover. I own two copies: a copy stained with mushroomgoo for my basket, and a “clean” copy for the house.
- Patricia McNaught said in 2013 NJMA News 43-2
(This 1999 book is only available in paperback)

Additional General Field Guides

Mushrooms of Northeastern North America book cover
Only available in paper, this 1997 book features extensive keys for the mushroomer seeking to identify to species. Read its book review in NJMA News 42-3.
Mushrooms and Other Fungi of North America book cover
This 1995 & 2005 book features a more extensive species list (e.g., on Cortinarius) than in other books.
ISBN-13: 978-1554076512
ISBN-10: 155407651X
Picture of book cover of Mushrooms of the Southeast
See Book Review in NJMA News 48-3. The more southernly species are sometimes seen in New Jersey.
Mushrooms of North America book cover
This Roger Phillips 1991 book is liked by many of our experienced members.
Mushrooms of West Virginia and the Central Appalachians book cover
Mushrooms of West Virginia and the Central Appalachians is a 2003 book by William C. Roody.
Field Guide to Mushrooms book cover
This 1981 book by Gary Lincoff is still a bestseller at online and brick and mortar book stores. Species coverage is one of the more extensive for our area. Only available in paperback.
ISBN-13: 978-0394519920
ISBN-10: 0394519922

Specialized Field Guides

Amanitas of North America book cover
This 2020 Amanita book was reviewed in NJMA News 50-4
Ascomycete Fungi of North America book cover
See Ascomycete Book Review in NJMA News 44-3
Boletes of Eastern North America book cover
See book review for Boletes in NJMA News 47-2
Milk Mushrooms of North America book cover
This 2009 book covers the genus Lactarius (and Lactifluus)

Picture
This 2021 polypore book will be reviewed in the NJMA News 52-3 summer issue.

Tricholomas of North America book cover
See Tricholomas Book Review in NJMA News 43-1

Waxcap Mushrooms of Eastern North America book cover
This 2012 waxcap book covers genera Hygrophorus, Hygrocybe, Cuphophyllus, Gliophorus, Humidicutis, and so on. See review in NJMA News 42-3.

CRUSTS AND RESUPINATES

Coriciaceae s.l. book cover
Fungi of Switzerland Volume 2 book cover
The Corticiaceae s.l. book cover
Fungi of Temperate Europe Volume 13 book cover
Last Updated 2021-06-20
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  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • Our Story
    • FAQs
    • Contact Us
  • FORAYS
    • Foray Etiquette
    • Foray Guidelines
    • Taxonomy
  • MEMBERSHIP
    • Join/Renew
    • Membership Benefits
    • Citizen Scientist
    • What is in it for Kids?
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Photo Contest Winners
  • EVENTS
    • Virtual Events
    • Fungus Fest
    • Victor Gambino Weekend Trip
  • NEWSLETTER
  • NJ MUSHROOMS
    • Common NJ Mushrooms
    • Special Projects
    • NJMA Foray Species Lists
    • Rarely Recorded Fungi
    • Useful Field Guides
  • SPECIAL INTERESTS
    • Culinary
    • Lichens
    • Slime Molds
    • Medicinal Fungi
    • Mushroom Cultivation
    • Art
    • MycoCrafts
  • RESOURCES
    • Mushroom Identification
    • Mushroom Clubs
    • Observation Recording
    • For Learning
    • Mycoremediation
    • Poison Control
  • MEMBERS ONLY
    • NJMA Merchandise
    • Current Newsletter
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    • Directions
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    • YouTube Channel
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