February 1, 2014 (Vol. 34, No. 3)
Rating:
Strong Points: Nicely designed
Weak Points: None
Platform:
iPad/iPhone
Cost:
Free
Summary:
Whether you have an intellectual interest in fungi or are looking to bring out your inner mushroom hunter, the Rogers Mushrooms: Fungi of Europe and North America app is a great resource to learn how to identify a large number of fungal species. In the Lite (that is, free) version of the app, there are fewer species included, but there is still a nice collection of entries. Each species entry is accompanied by one or multiple photos, as well as a description. The edibility of each species is also noted, for those who are culinary-inclined (just be sure to read the important, flashing disclaimer on the homepage of the app). Beyond browsing the entries in a list format, app users can view three different visual summaries of different mushroom types, and they can also search the collection by a number of parameters such as flesh type, spore color, habitat, and location.
