T. Matsushima, ,Icones microfungorum a Matsuskima lectorum (1975) Kobe,Publ. by the author 209...
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Trans. Br, mycol, Soc. 67 (1) 183-185 (1976) Printed in Great Britain REVIEWS leones microfll1l{forum a Matsushima lectorum. By T. MATSUSHIMA. (Publ, by the author, Kobe, 1975.) pp. 209, plates 415. Price 12000 yen In the past few decades there has been a noticeable and regrettable diminution in the numbers of practising dedicated collectors of microfungi in the tropics and subtropics. The welcome appearance of Dr Mat- sushima's first book, Microfungi of the Solomon Islands and PapUQ New Guinea, Kobe (1971), has given some idea of just how much material there still remains to be found and worked over, and the des- perate need for such basic work to continue. In this 1971 publication 200 Hyphomycetes and 32 Ascomy- cetes were described, including 9 new genera, 63 new species and 4 new combinations for Hyphomycetes and 4 new species of Ascomycetes. Another 20 new species and 5 new genera of Hyphomycetes were formaIly described in Bull. Nat. Sci. Mus . Tokyo 14, 460-480 (1971), and accounts of these also appeared in the book. Since the appearance of these twO contri- butions it is quite evident that they have filled a gap in our mycologicalknowledge of that particular area, and, moreover, despite the fact that they are accounts of a relatively small tropical geographical area, it has subsequently transpired that several of the newly des- cribed species and genera are subtropical or temperate in distribution, occurring in South America, Mrica and other parts of Asia. Their interest therefore extends beyond the original scope of study, and hyphomycete taxonomists and ecologists dealing with soil microfungi or organisms involved in colonization of plant debris should certainly be conversant with their contents. The appearance of the present work was therefore viewed with considerable interest. It deals with 577 deuteromycetes, 64 ascomycetes and 13 phycomycetes and is based largely upon collections made by the author in Japan. A few species are described from Alaska and South America. New taxa include 7 new genera, 155 new species and 16 new combinations in the Hyphomycetes and 2 new species of Ascomycetes. Its staggering scope is matched by the excellence of its production, and this in itself is remarkable these days for an essentially floristic work. The whole book, apart from preface and brief introduction, is written in manageable Latin, but there are no descriptions in a second language. Modem references are supplied for taxa already described. Each species is represented by either line illustrations or photomicrographs, the quality of which are unmatched by any taxonomic work in my knowledge. Many are photographed under phase contrast, and sufficient conidia, conidiophores and conidiogenous cells are included in each plate to give a good idea of the range in variation. The micro- manipulation and technique required to produce plates of such quality and clarity, often depicting a feature known to be most difficult to illustrate, let alone see with optical microscopy, is greatly to be admired, and indeed, envied. Already I have found a considerable amount of new information in this work which has materially helped in taxonomic problems connected with the diverse studies of microfungi involved in Eucalyptus litter decomposition in Brazil, and bark colonization of deciduous and coniferous substrates by microfungi in Canada. The status and relationships of the new taxa introduced will surely provide varied and interesting taxonomic problems for the future. Time itself will determine the value of this volume, but in only 5 years, the usefulness of Dr Matsushima's previous book is undisputed. Since the fungi in his latest book are mainly from Japan, there is an even greater likelihood that it will be of the utmost significance in taxonomic, floristic and ecological studies in temperate regions. Quite apart from its undeniable scientific value, simply as a book it is beautiful to behold. The economy of description, elegance of line illustration, incredible symmetry of photographic plate composition and high quality of production ensure that this will be relished for many years to come. B. C. SUTTON The Birds Nest Fungi. By HAROLD J. BRODIE (Univer- sity of Toronto Press). pp. XV+ 199. Price £4.00. This is a true monograph in which the ecology of the Birds Nest fungi, particularly the mechanisms involved in the dispersal of their 'eggs' is wedded with a taxo- nomic account. With this publication Brodie's numerous taxonomic studies and long experience of experimental work are brought together in an exciting and refreshing way. After a general chapter Brodie deals in the next eight chapters with the history of the group, basidio- spore form, development and germination, charac- teristics of the homo- and heterokaryotic mycelium (including fruit-body development), morphology and behaviour of nuclei, spore and splash dispersal, and distribution, occurrence and ecology. A chapter on miscellaneous observations including metabolites and economic importance concludes the biological part. The last third of the book consists of an account of the genera N idularia (3 spp.) and Mycoca/ia (S spp.), Nidula (4 spp.) and Crucibulum (3 spp.), and Cyathus (42 spp.) after an introductory review of the taxonomic characters used. Brodie gives his reasons for not including keys to the species of Cyathus yet one must feel that the small additional effort and cost of a key would have greatly added to the work. It is interesting to note that Brodie, Tulasne and Lloyd have described over half of the accepted species of Cyatbus and the publication of this book surely places Brodie alongside the Tulasnes by his experimental care and taxonomic expertise in these curious fungi. Unfortunately, as Brodie hinted, the taxonomic part is not as complete as taxonomists would like, but for others the cultural
Transcript of T. Matsushima, ,Icones microfungorum a Matsuskima lectorum (1975) Kobe,Publ. by the author 209...
Trans. Br, mycol, Soc. 67 (1) 183-185 (1976) Printed in Great Britain
REVIEWS
leones microfll1l{forum a Matsushima lectorum. ByT . MATSUSHIMA. (Publ, by the author, Kobe, 1975.)pp. 209, plates 415. Price 12000 yen (~19.35).
In the past few decades there has been a noticeable andregrettable diminution in the numbers of practisingdedicated collectors of microfungi in the tropics andsubtropics. The welcome appearance of Dr Matsushima's first book, Microfungi of the SolomonIslands and PapUQ New Guinea, Kobe (1971), hasgiven some idea of just how much material there stillremains to be found and worked over, and the desperate need for such basic work to continue. In this1971 publication 200 Hyphomycetes and 32 Ascomycetes were described, including 9 new genera, 63 newspecies and 4 new combinations for Hyphomycetesand 4 new species of Ascomycetes. Another 20 newspecies and 5 new genera of Hyphomycetes wereformaIly described in Bull. Nat. Sci . Mus . Tokyo 14,460-480 (1971), and accounts of these also appearedin the book. Since the appearance of these twO contributions it is quite evident that they have filled a gap inour mycologicalknowledge of that particular area, and,moreover, despite the fact that they are accounts ofa relatively small tropical geographical area, it hassubsequently transpired that several of the newly described species and genera are subtropical or temperatein distribution, occurring in South America, Mricaand other parts of Asia. Their interest thereforeextends beyond the original scope of study, andhyphomycete taxonomists and ecologists dealing withsoil microfungi or organisms involved in colonizationof plant debris should certainly be conversant withtheir contents.
The appearance of the present work was thereforeviewed with considerable interest. It deals with 577deuteromycetes, 64 ascomycetes and 13 phycomycetesand is based largely upon collections made by theauthor in Japan. A few species are described fromAlaska and South America. New taxa include 7 newgenera, 155 new species and 16 new combinations inthe Hyphomycetes and 2 new species of Ascomycetes.Its staggering scope is matched by the excellence ofits production, and this in itself is remarkable thesedays for an essentially floristic work. The whole book,apart from preface and brief introduction, is written inmanageable Latin, but there are no descriptions in asecond language. Modem references are supplied fortaxa already described. Each species is represented byeither line illustrations or photomicrographs, thequality of which are unmatched by any taxonomicwork in my knowledge. Many are photographed underphase contrast, and sufficient conidia, conidiophoresand conidiogenous cells are included in each plate togive a good idea of the range in variation. The micromanipulation and technique required to produceplates of such quality and clarity, often depicting afeature known to be most difficult to illustrate, let
alone see with optical microscopy, is greatly to beadmired, and indeed, envied.
Already I have found a considerable amount of newinformation in this work which has materially helpedin taxonomic problems connected with the diversestudies of microfungi involved in Eucalyptus litterdecomposition in Brazil, and bark colonization ofdeciduous and coniferous substrates by microfungi inCanada. The status and relationships of the new taxaintroduced will surely provide varied and interestingtaxonomic problems for the future. Time itself willdetermine the value of this volume, but in only 5 years,the usefulness of Dr Matsushima's previous book isundisputed. Since the fungi in his latest book aremainly from Japan, there is an even greater likelihoodthat it will be of the utmost significance in taxonomic,floristic and ecological studies in temperate regions.
Quite apart from its undeniable scientific value,simply as a book it is beautiful to behold. The economyof description, elegance of line illustration, incrediblesymmetry of photographic plate composition and highquality of production ensure that this will be relishedfor many years to come. B. C. SUTTON
The Birds Nest Fungi. By HAROLD J. BRODIE (Univer-sity of Toronto Press). pp. XV+ 199. Price £4.00.
This is a true monograph in which the ecology of theBirds Nest fungi, particularly the mechanisms involvedin the dispersal of their 'eggs' is wedded with a taxonomic account. With this publication Brodie'snumerous taxonomic studies and long experience ofexperimental work are brought together in an excitingand refreshing way.
After a general chapter Brodie deals in the nexteight chapters with the history of the group, basidiospore form, development and germination, characteristics of the homo- and heterokaryotic mycelium(including fruit-body development), morphology andbehaviour of nuclei, spore and splash dispersal, anddistribution, occurrence and ecology. A chapter onmiscellaneous observations including metabolites andeconomic importance concludes the biological part.
The last third of the book consists of an account ofthe genera N idularia (3 spp.) and Mycoca/ia (S spp.),Nidula (4 spp.) and Crucibulum (3 spp.), and Cyathus(42 spp.) after an introductory review of the taxonomiccharacters used. Brodie gives his reasons for notincluding keys to the species of Cyathus yet one mustfeel that the small additional effort and cost of a keywould have greatly added to the work. It is interestingto note that Brodie, Tulasne and Lloyd have describedover half of the accepted species of Cyatbus and thepublication of this book surely places Brodie alongsidethe Tulasnes by his experimental care and taxonomicexpertise in these curious fungi. Unfortunately, asBrodie hinted, the taxonomic part is not as completeas taxonomists would like, but for others the cultural
