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Myxomycetes of Ohio:
Their Systematics, Biology, and Use in Teaching
by
Harold W. Keller and Karl L. Braun
For those who missed the
New Mexico
Mycological Society's
Wonderful
World of Myxomycetes Workshop - Small is Beautiful given by Dr.
Harold Keller in 1998, here is another chance to catch up. Dr. Keller and
co-author Karl L. Braun have just launched the latest book on the subject:
Myxomycetes of Ohio: Their Systematics, Biology, and Use in
Teaching through the Ohio Biological Survey, which first awarded Dr.
Keller a grant in 1974 to support field research in the area.
The book covers species which are representative of temperate North
America not just Ohio myxos and is a very nice book for beginners to the
field because of the user friendly organization of the book. For those
who missed the workshop last April, just go buy an inexpensive hand lens.
The book provides explanations for simple methods for collection, growing
in simple moist chambers, microscopic study of specimens (It tells you how
to make a slide and the caveats!), and word keys for all known orders,
families and genera of myxomycetes. Other helpful little things too. For
example, there is a very good list of morphological terms which helps
orient a new person (and people like me who can't remember anything from
hour to hour) to understanding the fruiting body types and all the body
parts, so you will know what they are talking about a few pages later when
they describe all the Genera of myxomycetes alphabetically. So as you are
learning all this stuff for the first time and someone (like our recent
visiting myxomycologist David Mitchell from England) mentions an Arcyria
whosiwhatsit, you can just look down the list and get an idea of what he
is talking about. Good treatment of the subject without intimidation.
For professionals, more detailed treatment follows later in the
Identification Keys which also refer to other sources (e.g., Martin and
Alexopoulos (1969)) for more information and illustrations. Their
collection notes/discussions are beneficial to both the beginner and
professional. The book also includes sections on classroom teaching, both
at the high school and college levels. And that's not to mention the
beautiful photographs and watercolor plates in the back! Finally, there
is even a choice of "Wire-O Binding" for those who want to really use the
book or "Smythe-sewn, Perfect Binding" for those who want to be sure to
impress their friends with it on their bookshelf!
Order the book from the
Ohio Biological Survey
1315 Kinnear Road
Columbus OH 43212-1192
MasterCard and Visa phone
orders accepted:
614/ 292-9645
FAX: 614/ 688-4322).
The price is $35 US
(plus 10% postage + 5.75% sales tax for Ohio residents).
Postage in Canada, Mexico, & Central America: 11%, Europe & South America:
15%, Africa, Asia & the South Pacific 16%.
Welcome to the World of Myxomycetes!
Doris W. Eng
(NMMS)
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24 Sept,1999 |
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www.mycowest.org/books/c-99mxb1.htm
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