viii PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION 



plants, for example Synchytrium and Physoderma, are not dealt with, 

 although it is evident from their structure, reproduction, and develop- 

 ment that they might conceivably be regarded as aquatic fungi adapted 

 for entering and occupying a special type of habitat, the living cytoplasm 

 of their phanerogamic hosts. 



It is inevitable that a book requiring some years of preparation, 

 as this one has, should suffer to a degree from lack of uniformity, due 

 oftentimes to a changing point of view on the part of the author. An 

 attempt has been made, however, to be consistent in most matters, 

 particularly in the diagnoses of genera and species. Although the classi- 

 fication departs from that generally used, it is believed that the 

 taxonomic treatment is essentially a conservative one. If any doubt 

 exists as to the distinctiveness of a species, it has not been placed in 

 synonymy. This seems a justifiable course considering the relatively 

 few accounts thus far published of most of these fungi and, in many 

 groups, our as yet primitive methods of studying them. If a suitable 

 English diagnosis is available, it has been quoted directly. Occasionally 

 such diagnoses have been slightly modified in the interests of concise- 

 ness or in order to include additional pertinent information. Unless 

 a specific description is accompanied by citation of a collection made 

 by me, it has been compiled. After each specific description the substrata, 

 collectors, and place of collection are given, together with the citation 

 of accounts and figures in the literature. A question mark preceding 

 the name of the substratum indicates doubt as to the identity of the 

 fungus; a question mark after this name implies doubt as to the identity 

 of the substratum. Needless to say, preciseness in the citation of 

 "countries" has sometimes suffered from events of the times. Austria, 

 Czechoslovakia, and East Prussia are here included under "Germany." 

 Scherffel's collections made largely before the first World War are 

 given simply as in "Hungary." When matters of international suzerainty 

 become more static than at present, these locality names can be amend- 

 ed. Species considered imperfectly known are preceded by a question 

 mark, those rejected, by an asterisk. Very recent material is interpolated 

 wherever possible. The figures should be considered in conjunction 

 with the text to which they apply and which they are intended to 

 supplement. 



