Nestled within the breathtaking ecological tapestry of southwest China, Yunnan Province is a land of unparalleled natural wonder. Here, mist-shrouded mountains meet deep valleys, cultivating microclimates that sustain one of the planet’s most diverse and spectacular fungal kingdoms. For centuries, its forests have yielded a mycological treasure trove, deeply interwoven with local culture, cuisine, and tradition. Yet, the full breadth and complexity of this hidden world have long awaited a definitive scientific account.

Wild Fungi of Yunnan is that essential work. More than a field guide or popular catalogue, it stands as a comprehensive scientific testament—a regional mycological flora born from decades of rigorous scholarship. Led by Professor Zhu-Liang Yang, a preeminent figure in Chinese mycology, this volume represents the culmination of extensive fieldwork, meticulous specimen collection, and cutting-edge molecular analysis.

At its core, this book is a systematic effort to document the very foundation of Yunnan's fungal wealth. It moves beyond observation to provide a precise, organized classification and description of the province’s wild macro-fungi. Each entry offers a detailed portrait that combines:

• Records of biodiversity, documenting hundreds of species—from renowned edible delicacies to rare, endemic, and newly discovered fungi.

• Detailed species accounts, featuring precise morphological descriptions, habitat specifics (including forest associations and seasonal occurrence), and detailed geographical distributions within Yunnan.

• Unparalleled visual documentation, showcasing high-resolution, in-situ photographs that capture each species in its natural splendor, complemented by precise microscopic illustrations of spores, hyphae, and cystidia—the critical diagnostic tools of professional mycology.

• A modern taxonomic framework, employing the latest phylogenetic classifications based on DNA sequencing to ensure the work reflects the most current understanding of fungal relationships.

This volume not only catalogs but also contextualizes, serving as an indispensable scholarly reference and a visually stunning portal into Yunnan’s extraordinary fungal heritage.

Fully illustrated, text in Chinese, each fungi has a latin name, index in Latin.

2022, Beijing, Science Press, hardcover, 362pp., as new.