Fungi of the World: A Guide to Every Phylum

A beautifully illustrated guide to the world’s fungi—the essential one-stop reference for scientists, naturalists, and fungi enthusiasts From lowly molds in our refrigerators and pantries to the delicate networks of mycorrhizae supporting entire ecosystems, fungi are everywhere—and they are doing far more than we realize. This book takes readers on an extraordinary journey through one of Earth’s most enigmatic and essential realms, explaining what fungi are and how they live while offering a panoramic survey of their remarkable diversity. Whether you’re a seasoned mycophile or a curious newcomer, Fungi of the World opens a window into fungi’s ecological brilliance, evolutionary surprises, and taxonomic splendor. Provides a comprehensive introduction to fungi, their ecology, and importance and how they differ from other kingdoms of life Features a wealth of color photos, figures, and maps Covers all 11 known phyla, from the familiar Basidiomycota and Ascomycota to the lesser-known Zoopagomycota and the microsporidian fungi Profiles some 100 fungal families, describing key features such as distribution, habitat, and representative species, with notes on morphology and field identification Explores fungi’s expanding role across medicine, food, industry, conservation, and art Discusses how readers can help to preserve these often overlooked yet vital organisms