| Abstract Detail
MSA Presidential Address Halling, Roy E. [1]. A Bolete Story. In the mid-1970's, the Boletes were basically circumscribed as a family or two of fleshy mushrooms with pores and characterized by macro- and micromorphological features. Distribution was thought to be largely limited to forest and woodland habitats in the northern hemisphere where particular families of trees and shrubs are ectomycorrhizal partners. The north temperate bias delimiting boletes was further exacerbated because most of the boletologists lived and worked there. Little attention was given to southern hemisphere or tropical taxa except for some few compilations by mycologists with access to collections amassed during the era of colonial exploration of the tropics, but who had little or no field experience there. Between then and now, proper collaborative efforts have led to taxonomic experts (not just commissioned collectors) exploring remote new habitats, and even returning to classical ones, for diversity documentation. As a result, we have evidence today of a robust non-northern hemisphere bolete community, whose species composition has allowed a new perception of our understanding of the group. Exploratory field work continues to provide the fundamental raw material (properly vouchered specimens) for hypothesis driven scientific endeavors, including the description of novelties and inferences of relationship and descent. Modern laboratory technologies and a shift in philosophy of taxon circumscription have provided new insights on the circumscription of Boletes in the larger scheme.
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1 - New York Botanical Garden, Institute of Systematic Botany, Bronx, NY, 10458, USA
Keywords:
Boletaceae
systematics
Distribution.
Presentation Type: Special Presentation
Session: S1
Location: Ballroom 1/Cliff Lodge - Level B
Date: Monday, July 27th, 2009
Time: 8:00 AM
Number: S1001
Abstract ID:1028 |
