The world is a treasure trove of fungi. There are over 1.5 million known fungus species on our planet; we use them for food and medicine, they can be found in every ecosystem and on all continents, and they're even more closely related to animals than plants.They can also be as deadly as they are beautiful. Unearth the scientific, cultural and fantastical properties of mushrooms, and explore the world of mushrooms beyond what's in a kitchen, from a ballerina waxcap and barbie pagodas to a snowy disco and stinkhorns. This book celebrates their beauty, complexity and significance, and gives an insight into this fascinating kingdom of fungi.