Illustrated Generic Names of Fungi: Etymology, Descriptions, Classifications, and References

Featuring 1,000-plus original watercolors and 1,700 descriptions of genera, Illustrated Generic Names of Fungi is a unique combination of scientific and artistic content and clearly distinct from the usual mycology texts. This beautifully illustrated and up-to-date reference is the first of its kind published in English.

Descriptions are provided for genera in the kingdoms Fungi, Chromista, and Protozoa (all of which are studied by mycologists) and organized alphabetically within three sections. The description of each genus includes the etymology, authority, and morphology, as well as the current taxonomic classification. Details are also provided about the living modes of fungi in nature, revealing interactions with other organisms as saprobes, parasites, and symbionts. The genera covered in the book were found and isolated from countries across the five continents of the world.

The content of Illustrated Generic Names of Fungi reflects the authors’ philosophy that the best way to understand and remember scientific names is to understand their component parts. By learning the Greek and Latin roots of generic names, mycologists and biologists will gain a deeper and broader understanding of fungi. Additionally, by being provided with the bibliographic citation of the journal or book in which a given genus was first described, readers will better comprehend the nature of scientific authorities.

Authors Miguel Ulloa and Elvira Aguirre-Acosta are mycologists who have worked many years at the Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. They teach basic mycology in the biology curriculum and contribute to fungi expositions and congresses. Illustrated Generic Names of Fungi is a culmination of their years of research and teaching and will be an indispensable resource for students of mycology, as well as educators, researchers, and other professionals.