The North American species of Pholiota, by Alexander H. Smith and L. R. Hesler.

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The North American Species of Pholiota

Purpose of the Present Study
Since previous taxonomic accounts of Pholiota and Flammula concerned with the North American species have not been based on a modern
approach to a study of the basidiocarp, it was important to re-evaluate
species concepts for even the so-called common species. Singer's treatment
was a cross-sectional study of the genera and families of the Agaricales
and did not purport to be even reasonably complete for this group in any
region. Also, it was not concerned primarily with comparative studies of
species in the larger groups.
In addition, while a cross-sectional study such as Singer's was of great
value in aiding mycologists to gain perspective in relation to the genera
of the agaricales, its very scope prevented it from dealing with the larger
genera in detail. Before generic concepts can be established on anything
like a stable foundation, the monographs must follow in the wake of
Singer's cross sectional study. The present contribution should be regarded as a step in this direction..
It soon became evident in our study that the pholiotoid agarics of
North America were far more numerous than we had expected. In fact
it was only upon the completion of this work that we finally realized
how much basic exploration remained to be done. Our description of
over 75 previously undescribed species is evidence of the diversity of the
flora, and we do not claim to have found all that occur here-that would
be presumptuous indeed. It should be realized, but is not, apparently, in
some quarters, that there is no region on the face of the earth that lhas
been explored completely for any group of fungi. Fungi, unfortunately
or fortunately, depending on your point of view, move around, so that
one must always take the migration factor into account. Also, in spite of
the collecting that has been done even in the restricted areas such as the
British Isles where collecting has been done for years, there is no good
representation of the British agaric flora in their herbaria-this now is
being remedied by such workers as Dennis, Reid, Watling and othersbut the situation reflects the changing thinking on the study of agarics
over the last fifty years. If such a situation prevails in the British Isles,
what about the United States? Here we have had to deal with a much
larger more complicated flora with fewer people studying it. To the
extent that these factors have operated in our country, we are just that
much farther behind such areas as the British Isles and Scandinavia in the
problem of a basic inventory of our species and in learning their relationships. In view of this the number of "new" species in this work needs
no apology. If one is due it is for not having more than one lifetime in
which to complete the work.
Our collecting procedures have been organized around a sampling
process of working in the various forest associations of North America in
the various climatic regions. We know from intensive collecting in
selected areas such as the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and