This book brings together the essentials of our knowledge of the cytology, plectology («histology») and anatomy of the Hymenomycetes, an important group of higher fungi including mushrooms, boletes, bracket fungi, club fungi, chanterelles, spine fungi and crust fungi, but excluding the Gasteromycetes and jelly fungi. It spans about two centuries of mycological research, from the late 18th century to spring 2003, and most chapters include historical notes on the topics discussed. Taxonomy, physiology, biochemistry, ecology and genetics are not treated, although a minimum of ecological or physiological information is given when appropriate. The terminology often breaks away from traditional and sometimes obsolete concepts, especially in the description of hyphal differentiations, of cystidia and of fruit body development. All accepted concepts and terms are illustrated and many examples given, often with new and original photographs. The last chapter, Associations of Hymenomycetes with Other Organisms, is deliberately short and concise, except the discussion of the lichenised Basidiomycetes, since most topics discussed there, e.g. the mycorrhizae and the termites, are treated in other specialised books or are still poorly understood.

This manual covers all groups of fungi and fungus-like organisms and includes over 500 diagrams and line drawings. Descriptions of major groups (phylogenetic and artificial), simplified keys to family, and an illustrated glossary enable placement of common fungi into the appropriate taxonomic category. Text and glossary are coordinated to introduce fundamentals of mycological terminology. Over 30 pages of references are provided for literature on identification of cultures and specimens, and references are also given for contemporary phylogenetic research on each major taxonomic group. Publisher.