A Naturalist's Guide to the Fungi of Aotearoa New Zealand product reviews

Whether we know it or not, the world is kept alive by a mostly-invisible network of fungi. Whether they are working to move nutrients around underneath the patches of native forest, breaking down the green-waste from our gardens and kitchens, or tirelessly dealing with the dead pests from bushland trapping programmes, fungi are the powerhouses that drive the hidden ecology beneath our feet. Yet, to us, they are seen as little more than dinner ingredients or toxic hazards to warn the kids away from.

Packed into a compact book that would fit into a thigh pocket of a good pair of hiking pants or jacket, or tucked into a side-pocket of the camera bag, this guide is a veritable cornucopia of knowledge about the oh-so-many fungal species that thrive in our land. And while there are many toxic species, it surprised me to find so many that were either safe to eat if prepared correctly, or safe to eat straight from the ground, tree-trunk or leaf-litter.

The guide provides at least one high-quality photo of each fungus - at least, the fruiting-bodies if not the whole thing - and a comprehensive description of what it is and where it can usually be found. As well, each entry includes a classification regarding its edibility, ranging from "poisonous" to "edible" and including any expected side effects such as adverse reactions to hallucinogenic properties. However, the guide points out in no uncertain terms that grabbing a fungus and chowing down is far more likely to see you in trouble than gastronomic bliss - because of this, the 'edibility' aspect is downplayed considerably.

As someone who travels a few times per year, and often ends up walking a nature trail, tramping through some bushland or exploring some decorative gardens, I found this guide to be an excellent resource when I came across an unknown example. But, while I have to applaud the comprehensiveness of it, I soon realised that actually using it to identify a species takes some time - this is not a 'one quick glance' or 'answer a couple of quick questions' situation. Rather, it takes a few read-throughs before you are ready to really go out into the wild and have some fun time exploring fungi.

Until you really get to know the book, it is less of a 'take it with you' guide and more of a 'take notes and pictures, then look it up later' resource. The more you use it, the quicker it becomes to track down your subject, and eventually you will be able to find a match in very short order, but that may take a while so be patient with it.

Overall, for any hiker, tramper or wanderer who has an interest in learning more about this secretive but pervasive order of life, this assuredly is, and will rapidly become, a valued and well-used resource. For the casual and curious, it will become such a resource over time. For those keen on foraging for food, it could easily become a lifesaver, but must be used with caution as many edible species have toxic look-alikes and, much like the monarch and viceroy butterflies, it can require some care and close observation to tell the difference - isn't evolution just grand! I'll be taking this with me when I next head out to a forested area, to see what I can see.