• Tea Party Teleomorphs: Dead-Man’s Fingers and Allied Fungi of the Boston Harbor Islands

    Roo Vandegrift Description:Join Dr. Roo Vandegrift for a rapid romp through the Xylariales, an order of ascomycete 'flask' fungi, generally growing on wood and other plant debris. Learn the important families and genera within the order, illustrated with examples taken from an extensive fungal inventory conducted between December 2012 and May 2017 at the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area (BHI) in Massachusetts (Haelewaters et al. 2018). A new species, Xylaria finismundoensis, is described: this taxon provides the decomposer 'missing link' for a group of a Xylaria previously only known as endophytes (a type of plant symbiont).

  • A Systematic Overview of North American Inocybaceae

    The Inocybaceae is an ectomycorrhizal family of mushroom-forming fungi with some 1000 species worldwide. Seven genera are now recognized in the family, but the last revision of North American taxa in the group took place nearly 100 years ago. Since this time the number of known species in North America has tripled, and various estimates put the number of species in the family from this area between 300-400. This overview will present an introduction to the family Inocybaceae, some evolutionary and ecological background, and showcase recent systematic developments in the group.

  • Lecture information

    About the lectures

    We have a lecture series that commences in February and usually ends in June, where experts from a variety of fields will present to club members. Lectures cover scientific topics (different types of fungi and the latest discoveries) and hands-on skills (identification and microscopy).

    They are currently taking place on Zoom, but hopefully we will be able to have them in person again in the not too distant future. YouTube links for past lectures can be found in the Lectures section of our website, along with information on upcoming lectures.

    Trulli
    Angelina rufescens, Elan Trybuch, February 11th, 2023, Cunningham Park, Queens, NY