Fungi of South Australia

Abstract

THE South Australian Branch of the British Science Guild is making a determined effort to interpret the flora and fauna of the southern parts of Australia to students of biology in that region. It has on one hand the sympathy and active financial support of the South Australian Government, and on the other hand the authors of a series of handbooks, who prepare their manuscripts gratuitously. The latest volume to be added to this list is the second part of “Toadstools and Mushrooms and other Larger Fungi of South Australia” (Adelaide: Govt. Printer. 5s. net. Pp. 177-362. June 1935). Prof. J. B. Cleland, who is also chairman of the Committee responsible for the handbooks, has written the volume, which deals with polyporous and coral fungi, with puff-balls, jelly-like fungi, and the larger Ascomycetes and Myxomycetes. The volume forms, with Part 1 (published in June 1934), a complete guide to the grosser fungi of the area mentioned in the title, and it is no fault of the author that the Hymenomycetes are in great preponderance. Ascomycetes receive somewhat scant treatment upon five pages, whilst Myxomycetes receive slightly less, but the treatment of the Basidiomycetes should make the volume into a mycological classic. The classification adopted is a combination of the systems propounded by Carleton Rea and P. Claussen. It is easy to follow, though a purely English reader might have preferred to see either the modern thoroughness and authoritative dignity of Rea, or the comprehensive well-tried simplicity of Claussen, adopted throughout.