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BioImages: The Virtual Field-Guide (UK)
Cappelli, A., 1984
Agaricus
When this lavishly produced monograph appeared in 1984, "mushrooms" finally became identifiable!
Most of the text is in two languages (Italian and English) which makes the book larger than it would otherwise be.
The Systematic Part follows short introductory chapters. This consists of a tabulation of the groups and species and serves as a key. Note: care must be taken that there are no further alternatives on later pages.
The next section is the Species Descriptions. These include the original Latin diagnoses, but otherwise are in Italian. Each description is followed by Observations, in both Italian and English, which describe how related species differ.
A major feature of the work is the beautiful colour plates from paintings by L.V. Musumeci under the direction of the author. These are found in the final section, the Iconography. Short descriptions (Italian and English) face the plates which illustrate each species life-size, including fruitbody sections, surface colour changes and slightly stylised line-drawings of the microscopy.
The "Tabulation" (key) begins on page 67.
| Publisher |
Biella Giovanna |
| Volume |
1 |
| Pages |
560 |
| Coverage |
All of the species recognised in Europe at the time, although a few are only mentioned in the Observations. |
| Illustrations |
A few half-tone figures in the text, but the main feature is 70 beautiful and accurate colour pantings in the second half of the book. |
| Identify |
Under a Compound Microscope. |
| Specimen Prep. |
Colour changes on fresh specimens and microscopy of spores and cheilocystidia. |
| Difficulty |
With the microscopy, they are comparatively straightforward. |
Malcolm Storey
Taxonomic Scope
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