WhichFungi

Not just another field guide

Are you tired of trying to identify a mushroom with a book or key or app? And then when you finally figure out which mushroom is could be, the next question that comes up is

"What if there is a look alike or several mushrooms that look like the one you found and are possibly toxic???"

And the answer to this question is no where to be found!

We were too. That is why a group of us got together and created this collection.

The first collection Deck 1: The Edibles is a faster and simpler method to scientifically, YET clearly determine if the mushroom found is edible, toxic or deadly. The collection is compact and handy too. Deck 2: The Deadlies compliments the first collection by providing information and illustrations on all the mushrooms that have a minimum of one documented death, associated with their consumption.

Our newest collection Deck 3: The Wild Ones is currently available for preorder. We are hoping to have this ready to ship around Christmas.

This third collection contains 25 entheogenic mushrooms that grow in the wild in Europe and North America. Our goal at WhichFungi is not to encourage or condone the use of psychoactive mushrooms. But rather to make foragers aware of the extremely toxic and sometimes deadly look-a-likes.

The Twins Book

Now available through AMAZON only (for the moment), The Twins, the only reference guide on the planet (that we know of) that is dedicated to differenciating an edible mushroom from its look-alikes.

If you think you know which mushroom it might be, but there is one or several characteristics that are off... Well then, which mushroom could it be?

Elise Rothman d'Hauthuille, author  

For over 10 years, Elise has been collecting and studying mushrooms in California, England; Wales, Greece and now France.  The new method of mushroom identification in this collection is the fruit of Elise's experience in the field of data research, collection and analysis, coupled with a passion for fungi and 5 years of dedication. Besides her interest in mycology, Elise has been working in the non-profit sector on project development, research and funding for programs ranging from equine assisted therapy, youth and the arts, agroforestry, sustainable farming and local food systems. Elise is a closet scientist, mycologist, permaculturist, social activist and a warrior for the planet. She is the mother of Max, Zoe and Luc, ages 29, 28 and 27 who live in France, Ireland and Santa Cruz (California) respectively. 

Michel Beeckman, co-author

Michel Beeckman is a young Dutch amateur mycologist from The Hague. He started his interest in mushrooms at age two, and became the youngest member ever to join the Dutch Mycological Society at age nine. Ever since, he has been leading mushroom forays, workshops, and talks for children and their parents, students, beginners to experts, and excursion leaders in training. Over the years he has compiled quite a collection of mycological literature, and curates his own small personal herbarium. His current personal focus within mycology is the taxonomy of and education about coprinoids (“ink caps”), which he has been studying over the past six years. In the past eight years he has been very active on social media, particularly Facebook, where he helps with identifications and education all over the world. Michel is also a trusted identifier for the online emergency identification service “Poisons Help; Emergency Identification For Mushrooms & Plants”, which is used by Poison Control, vets, medics, worried parents and pet owners. This platform consists of a global team of experts in mycology, botany, toxicology, chemistry, as well as several vets and medics. They provide accurate, peer-reviewed identification and toxicological information in case of (potential) poisoning by mushrooms or plants.

Philippe Durand, scientific advisor

Born in the Tarn in 1945. Professor of mathematics, he taught at the Lycée Barral in Castres and at the IUT Paul-Sabatier, Albi branch. Passionate since his youth about the study of biodiversity, he is president of the Société Tarnaise de Sciences Naturelles and actively participates in a better knowledge of the flora, fauna and flora of southern France. He is co-author of several books, including À la découverte de la flore du Haut-Languedoc, 2014, a co-publication of the Parc Naturel Régional du Haut-Languedoc and Naturalia Publications.

Samuel Arnold Keane artist/illustrator Deck I: The Edibles

Samuel Arnold Keane is an illustrator, forager, musician...amongst other things. Having grown up in France, Samuel moved to Ireland where he later studied Graphic Design in Dublin. Samuel has independently published booklets, 'Urban Forager' and 'Seaweed Forager' amongst other prints. He has led foraging workshops with the Irish Wildlife Trust, Common Ground Bray, Bray Refugee Solidarity and Brittas Bay Surf School. The booklets combine educational facts with storytelling and intricate illustration- bringing out the magic that arises when foraging. Tying into the content- the pieces themselves are printed on recycled papers and designed using a folding pattern rather than glues. Samuel has also painted murals in Dublin city as part of Dublin Canvas Project as well as private home murals, all based on plant form.instagram: @samyelyel   website: www.samyelyel.tumblr.com

Ríona Ní Ríagáin artist/illustrator Deck II: The Deadlies

Ríona Ní Ríagáin grew up off the grid in the Burren in the west of Ireland. An intimate relationship with this unique landscape and ecosystem informed her strong reverence and fascination with the subtleties of nature. After a childhood and adolescence creating art, she completed a BA in Fine Art from Crawford College of Art and Design in Cork with a focus on drawing and illustration, emphasising natural phenomena such as plants, seeds, outer space, and Fibonacci spirals. She is currently self-employed doing freelance artwork including album and book covers, illustrating short stories, and selling originals and prints via the links below. Etsy.com/ie/shop/ancientfernsart  instagram.com/ancient.ferns.art

Eleanor Quinn artist/illustrator Deck III: The Wild Ones

Eleanor Quinn is a visual artist from Cork, Ireland, with an MA in Fine Art from Crawford College of Art and Design where she specialised in life drawing. Eleanor is a book illustrator and freelance artist, working traditionally on paper with ink or pencil. Her work is known for being detail oriented and small in scale, with a love for both recording reality and bringing to life things imaginary. Prints of her work can be bought online at etsy.com/ie/shop/BrambleHillPress.