Events

We will present an overview of the taxonomy and distribution of the species of Pluteus in North America based on morphological studies and molecular phylogenies. A total of 120 taxa (species and varieties) of Pluteus have been described from or reported in North America, but currently only c. 40 of these species have been confirmed to occur here, based on molecular data generated from North American voucher collections. We will discuss the ongoing, collaborative projects to clarify the status of old names in the genus, and to describe a good number on new species, through a combination of morphological and molecular approaches and collaboration with citizen-scientists.

The Talk:  As humans reshape Earth's biodiversity, conservationists and the public worry about what will happen to animals and plants.  But what about fungi?  Mushrooms are also on the move, and movements are often mediated by commerce and trade.  Humans brought the fungus Amanita phalloides to California, and it is now invasive.  How did that happen and why is it spreading?