|
|
BioImages: The Virtual Field-Guide (UK)
Pegler, D.N., Laessoe, T. & Spooner, B.M., 1995
British Puffballs, Earthstars & Stinkhorns
Nicely presented work with very complete descriptions and excellent colour photographs.
The introduction contains a useful table of habitat preferences (p11-12).
The first key (p19) is to old-style orders and families, but these groups are well known so this will rarely be needed. It is followed by the orders, each with a short account, followed by a key to families, and so on. The final keys to species are followed by very full species accounts with a colour photograph and line drawings of microscopy.
| Publisher |
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (RBG (K)) |
| Pages |
255 |
| ISBN |
0 947643 81 8 |
| Comments and Corrigenda |
Incorrect page numbers in the key on page 19.
The same couplet is repeated slightly differently in some keys, eg couplet 2 on p19 is different from its equivalent in the key on page 56. |
| Coverage |
All the British species of basidiomycete gasteromycetes, including exotics and historical records, known at the time. |
| Illustrations |
A good colour photograph and line drawings of the microscopy accompany each species entry. |
| Identify |
In the Hand (also useful to examine under a Compound Microscope). |
| Specimen Prep. |
The keys to genera mainly use macroscopic characters, but microscopic examination of spores and capillitium is often required at species level. A wetting agent, eg alcohol or dilute detergent is useful to wet the spores and capillitium. Cotton blue helps to show capillitial characters. |
| Difficulty |
Mostly straightforward, although Scleroderma, Geastrum and Lycoperdon require care. |
Malcolm Storey
Taxonomic Scope
| Hydnangium carneum Wallr., 1839 (a truffle) |
Identification |
|
Current |
|
| LYCOPERDACEAE Chevall., 1826 (puffballs) |
Identification |
|
Current |
|
| NIDULARIACEAE Dumort., 1822 (bird's nest fungi) |
Identification |
|
Current |
|
| TULOSTOMATACEAE E. Fisch., 1900 (stalkballs) |
Identification |
|
Current |
|
| GEASTRACEAE Corda, 1842 (earthstars) |
Identification |
|
Current |
|
| HYSTERANGIACEAE E. Fisch., 1899 (a family of truffles) |
Identification |
|
Current |
|
| PHALLACEAE Corda, 1842 (stinkhorns) |
Identification |
|
Current |
|
| Gautieria (a genus of false truffles) |
Identification |
|
Current |
|
| (Gasteromycetes) (Puffballs, Earthstars, Earthballs, Stinkhorns, Truffles Etc) |
Identification |
|
Current |
Basidiomycete species only. |
|
