For many years this was "The Bible" for the identification of non-lichenised Ascomycete fruitbodies, and it remains useful for the sheer number of species covered. Inevitably the taxonomy is now rather dated.

Keys to groups and genera are given, but not to species, even in large genera (it can get a bit tedious working through 24 spp of Peziza!) Full descriptions of macro features, microscopy and host/microhabitat are given for the main species. There is generally a painting of the fruitbody and/or a line drawing of the microscopy. The location details of the figured material is given, but with insufficient detail to refind the fungus. Less common or less well understood related species are mentioned in footnotes.

The coverage is a rather patchy: better on saprobes, less complete for plant parasites, eg powdery mildews. Lichens are omitted. A few lichen para-symbionts are included, but many more species have been discovered since the present work was published.

Something went wrong with the index so that *Unguicularia* to *viridipilosa* is listed BETWEEN *Trichobolus* and *trichodea*, so that U appears to end with *undulata* while V commences with *viridis*.

A second edition was published in 1981 contaniing a 42-page supplement which updates the nomenclature and adds 4 new plates of figures and a number of additional species.