Book excerpt: Simon & Schuster's Guide to Mushrooms is an indispensable reference for gardeners, hikers, and anyone fascinated by mushrooms and other fungi. Lavishly illustrated, it contains detailed information about 420 species found in the United States and Europe. A comprehensive introduction provides general information about the structure, reproduction, life cycle, classification, and distribution of the various species. Individual entries describe the appearance, habitat, and geographical distribution of each fungus, and a visual key uses immediately recognizable symbols to indicate spore color, ecological environment, and whether a species is edible or poisonous. Also included are a glossary, an analytical index, and an Index to Genera for locating particular subjects, helping to make this the most beautiful, valuable, and authoritative book in the field. Book jacket.