THE SECRET LIFE OF FUNGI

A seasoned British mycophile presents a feast of fungi, benign and malign.

No less scientific for its whimsicality, Whiteley’s charming, informative survey of fungus reveals many little-known facts about a vast array of species, stressing that life as we know it would not be possible without the roles played by these unique organisms. Neither plant nor animal, but a life-form all its own, fungi can thrive anywhere on the planet, even in outer space. The largest single organism on Earth, notes the author, is a continuous specimen of fungus in Oregon’s Malheur National Forest measuring 9,650,000 square meters. An able guide, Whiteley takes us on a brief tour of taxonomy (the science of naming and categorizing species) and a more detailed study of osmotrophy (the process by which fungi digest animal and plant material). She also contrasts fungi with lichen, the latter being composite organisms that include algae or bacteria alongside fungi, living mutually. Celebrating the edible mushroom’s culinary versatility, Whiteley offers an occasional recipe, though no tips on foraging; the universe of mushrooms (fungi’s fruiting body) is much too complex (and potentially perilous) to make decisions without expert knowledge. That said, humans have been consuming them for more than 19,000 years and employing their medicinal properties for at least 5,000. Certain microfungi may hold the key to devouring large amounts of the plastics now consigned to landfills and oceans as well as lead to new biofuels and other chemical/biological applications. As to the more inimical (to humans) varieties, Whiteley surveys horror tales and films about fungi run amok, but she forgets the hijacking spores of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. The author closes with a glossary, Dramatis Fungi, ranging from the familiar and tasty Agaricus bisporus, or “Common Mushroom (Button, Chestnut, Portobello, Swiss Brown, Italian Brown),” to the lethal Amanita phalloides, or “Death Cap.”

A pleasing assembly of the puzzle of the world with fungi as a key piece.