AuthorGrove, W.B.
Year1937
TitleBritish Stem- and Leaf- Fungi: Coelomycetes Vol. II … Sphaeropsidales (rest) + Melanconiales
TypeBook/Report
How CompleteAll the then-known British species of coelomycetes with coloured conidia.
SourceVol II, 407pp, Cambridge University Press
IllustrationsSome small line-drawings in the text
Review (by Malcolm Storey)

The taxa are arranged in form genera. Within the genera, the species accounts are arranged in alphabetical order of host genus. There are line drawings of representative conidia at the start of each genus, and the occasional additional line drawing in the text.

Keys are given to higher taxa, down to the genera, but these are difficult, requiring dissection or sectioning of the minute conidiomata and it’s much easier to use the host index, although there are some plurivorous species.

Following the species accounts are the addenda to Volume I, latin diagnoses of new genera and species, epilogue (in which he invisages a time, "some distant future age", when "every Coelomycete is referred to its appropriate Ascomycete" and the form genera will be no longer needed, except to refer to the anamorphic growth forms. His distant future age took about 70 years - hardly longer than the gap between Cooke’s account of the Coelomycetes and his own updating of it). This is followed by "Phomopsis perniciosa" (a poem about a new disease of fruit-trees which appeared to be a mutation of a previously existing disease), Index of Ascomycetes (associated with Coelomycetes), Index of Hosts, Index of Binomial Names and a list of Author names and abbreviations.

Although 70 years old, this is still the best reference for our native coelomycetes. Volume I covers those species with colourless conidia, volume II those where the conidia are coloured.

The taxonomy of the fungi (and their hosts!) is very dated so care needs to be taken.

Can be viewed online at CyberLiber.

Examine Compound Microscope
Specimen PreparationSpore preps, dissection or sectioning of pycnidia
Identification difficultyMany can be recognised macroscopically if the host is known, but microscopy is required for confirmation.
Website urlwww.cybertruffle.org.uk/cyberliber/01210/index.htm
Notes & PurposeStatusTaxonEnglishClassification
For identificationCurrent[Coelomycetes]stem- and leaf-fungiFungi
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