PREFACE TO THE AMERICAN EDITION 



In presenting this translation and revision of Gaumann's "Com- 

 parative Morphology of Fungi" to the American public, it is desirable to 

 state the principles which have guided in this work. An attempt has 

 been made to secure a free translation, conveying the ideas expressed 

 in as idiomatic English as possible rather than to follow the German 

 closely. Whenever any ambiguity has appeared, the original papers 

 have been consulted and followed. The theoretical discussions of 

 phylogeny have been preserved, even though it is impossible for me to 

 agree with some of the conclusions. The rearrangement of the orders 

 is made with the author's approval, since the arrangement in the German 

 edition followed the traditional arrangement rather than expressed the 

 author's personal views. This arrangement being less traditional in 

 America, the need for its preservation seemed less. This rearrangement 

 has necessitated rewriting most of the orders of the Basidiomycetes, 

 except the rusts and smuts. 



Throughout the book, such new literature (1925-1927) as I have 

 found, has been incorporated without special mention or change of the 

 discussion of the phylogeny. In a few cases, the abundant new literature 

 has necessitated a complete rewriting of the discussion of the group in 

 question. That of the Basioboleae was rewritten in the light of Miss 

 Levisohn's paper and that of the Elaphomycetaceae as a result of 

 my own observations. The papers of Wehmeyer on the stromatic 

 Sphaeriales necessitated a complete revision of the Diatrypaceae and 

 Diaporthaceae. Two new volumes of Thaxter's monograph of the 

 Laboulbeniales, and Gaumann's misinterpretation of some of Thaxter's 

 previous statements and figures, necessitated a new discussion of that 

 order. Gaumann's phylogenetic discussion and my criticism of his 

 statements have been relegated to smaller type at the close of the order, 

 leaving the main discussion a statement of facts. The papers of Burt 

 on the Thelephoraceae (sensu latiore) have opened up a wealth of new 

 forms, here dealt with in the Corticiaceae, Cyphellaceae, Tremellaceae and 

 Septobasidiaceae. The discussion of the Radulaceae (Hydnaceae of most 

 authors) is based partly on Banker's excellent papers and partly on my 

 own observations. The treatment of the Gasteromycetes (including the 

 Plectobasidiales, the Podaxaceae and the Secotiaceae of Gaumann's 

 treatment), except that of the Clathraceae and Phallaceae, has been 

 completely rewritten in the light of recent ontogenetic papers and my 

 own observations of the last decade, and I assume full responsibility for 



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