Calloria neglecta (pos. stupid) question

[jaybie]

OK why doesn't this appear in Phillips/Collins? Have I missed something obvious somewhere.



I took the above shot yesterday and tried to find it in the two books I have but there was no reference to it. A quick google pointed me in the right direction and it appears that this is common. Funnily enough google led me to WAB and a picture by FungiJohn.

I realise that it is difficult to cover everything in a book but it did leave me wondering.

JohnB

[Ditiola]

John B
The reason you do not find everything in one book is that you would need a very big book. There are somewhere around 12,000 species of fungi in the UK

In the BMS database around 7,500 species have only been found in less than ten 10x10k grid squares, and 1,500 species are represented by a single record, some of these are type specimens and have not been found since, so you can see that it not really possible to have a comprehensive book, you need the resources of placed like Kew to get anywhere close to comprehensive literature.

Best start collecting the books right away

Peter

[jaybie]

Hi Peter

Thanks for taking the time to respond.

I realise how difficult it is to get it all in a single reference. It was just that when I searched the fungus seemed to be described as very common and that was what got me thinking.

Thank goodness for the internet - I'll just have to get saving for that library or get a job at Kew. Now how much was that "Fungi of Switzerland" and that .....

JohnB

[Ditiola]

Most popular books concentrate on the larger fungi and then mostly on mushrooms and toadstools as that’s what seems to interest most people and sell more books.

Although I have now built up and extensive library of books containing over 20,000 photographs, (not counting all the books with illustrations) Yet in all these books I only have two photographs of Calloria neglecta The ascomycetes are poorly represented in both popular and specialist photograph based books. Probably as most specialist use books with keys to identify ascomycetes.

The internet is an amazing source of photographs to confirm what you have keyed out looks something like what it should. However it must be used with great care as not all the photographs are correctly labelled or identified. Best to learn the sites that are the most reliable i.e. from a recognised mycologist. Another problem is Google tries to be too helpful and often includes text with a photograph just because they both appeared on the same web page.

Peter

[flaxton]

Originally Posted by jaybie

Hi Peter

Thank goodness for the internet - I'll just have to get saving for that library or get a job at Kew. Now how much was that "Fungi of Switzerland" and that .....

JohnB

John
If you like these little jobbies you won't find them in FOS you need something like Microfungi on Land Plants

Mal

[jaybie]

Originally Posted by Ditiola

Most popular books concentrate on the larger fungi and then mostly on mushrooms and toadstools as that’s what seems to interest most people and sell more books.

Peter

I can understand the reasoning behind this Peter. BTW I am cautious with the internet

Originally Posted by flaxton

John
If you like these little jobbies you won't find them in FOS you need something like Microfungi on Land Plants

Mal

Just checked the price of that one Mal - not sure if my interest extents that far just yet. I do find these microfungi fascinating but I think I need to concentrate more on getting my head round the basics.

Thanks, JohnB

Edit: Just thought - never mind the cost of the books what's the cost of a microscope!! Ah Well! back to basics.

[Lancashire Lad]

I second the point regarding the price of specialist books.

Yes, I appreciate that the world of fungi may not generate as many sales as would books on the more commomplace activites, but when fully illustrated books, packed to the gunwales with superb photographs, on many niche market subjects can be found in practically any bookstore for reasonable prices, it makes you wonder if there isn't just a little bit of elitism going on.

There's no doubt about it that many people are being priced out of getting their hands on quality information.

It also seems strange that many books considered the best in their respective fields, are years out of print. One example being British Ascomycetes (RWG Dennis). That book is a goldmine of information, but years out of print and selling for upwards of £125.00 second hand. Similarly with some of the Fungi of Switzerland volumes.

I'm afraid my finances won't quite stretch that far at this point in my limited fungi education. Maybe one day. (Lottery win and much dreaming permitting ).

Regards,
Mike.

[FungiJohn]

I don’t regard it as elitism at all, more a very specialised science subject.

Only now are we seeing high quality digital images of fungi and in the case of the often smaller ascomycetes, earlier images were often only artist’s impressions or poor representations through lack of good quality macro.

Consider too, the difficulty in finding many species. You certainly can’t just go out with the intention of finding a fungus. It may take many years or you just may never find it in a life time!

My ‘small’ collection of about 30 fungi books could now buy me another complete camera system and probably take me on a good holiday but I’ve still got a good few on my wish list! The British Ascomycetes by Richard William George Dennis is only a press of the button away btw

IMO the Fungi of Switzerland series are ideal with respect to ‘quality’ images and reasonable microscopic features. My own book of course will have even bigger and better images … eventually

Certainly, no single book is ever going to cover them all. Can you imagine the size of it

John

[FungiJohn]

Originally Posted by jaybie

Edit: Just thought - never mind the cost of the books what's the cost of a microscope!! Ah Well! back to basics.

Ideally, you will need two microscopes John. A dissecting microscope will make subject preperation much easier

John

[Lancashire Lad]

Originally Posted by FungiJohn

....The British Ascomycetes by Richard William George Dennis is only a press of the button away btw ...

Where John?
It's a book that I'd like to get hold of (but not at £125+). I've tried umpteen websites (including two major sellers in India). Several sites advertise the book, but when going into the purchase options they always say "currently unavailable/unobtainable".

Regards,
Mike.

Hi Mike

NHBS NHBS - British Ascomycetes - Richard William George Dennis

John

Thanks John (I'm sure I'd looked on that site previously to no avail ). Unfortunately, the £127.00 price tag rules it out.

Regards,
Mike.