At first, my absurd passion for chasing across fields, up hills, under undergrowth, through various dense forests in the deep damp Somerset autumn countryside for a morsel of fungal breakfast was given the name 'Gastro-Mycology'. After several meaningful e-discussions with Steve Pencall (editor of "Spore Print", the journal of the Los Angeles Mycological Society), he said to me, "No, it's called mycophagy: Myco - fungus, phage - eater, you know.".

I stand ever corrected.

Treasures of the forest trails

I have a new-found love affair with digital photography. I have found a good use for this passion, in capturing some of the lovely specimins I uncover on my long walks in the special places I know in the Somerset countryside. These places include Neroche Forest, the Chard Reservoir Nature Reserve and Herne Hill in my home town of Ilminster.

I would like to share some of the more interesting and attractive shots with you. Hope you like.


Oyster Mushrooms Pleurotus Ostreatus	Chanterelles Cantherellus Cibarius	Shaggy Ink Cap Coprinus Comatus


Judas' (Jews) Ear Auricula Auricularia Judae	Cauliflower Mushroom Sparassis Crispa	Chicken of the Woods Laetioporus Sulphureus


Parasol Mushroom Lepiota Rhacodes	Velvet Shank Flammulina Velutipes

Mycological links

	Mushroom Cultivation (UK)
	Bioimages Database
	The Fungal Gazette (NY)
	Kombucha mushroom info
	CanedInTotnes - Cannabis and Magic Mushrooms on the web

Recommended field guides

Title	by	Illustrations	Quantity	Good	Bad
Mushrooms and Toadstools	Collins Gem Pocket Guide	Excellent	230+	Small with clear pictures	-
Mushroom Magic	Michael Jordan	Ok	Small	Good reading	Not a field guide
The Mushrooms and Toadstools of the Britain & NW Europe	Marcel Bon	Ok	1500+	Comprehensive	Too many!
The Oxford Book of Flowerless Plants	B.E.Nicholson E.H.Brightman	Bad	250	-	Illustrations
A Passion for Mushrooms	Antonio Carluccio	Photos	100	Recipes!	-