This book addresses the challenge that the exceptional diversity of tropical fungi present to taxonomists, biochemists, molecular biologists, ecologists, and pathologists. The significance of the many tropical species and ectomycorrhizal associations in nutrient cycling in rainforests, desert ecosystems and aquatic habitats is considered, together with an evaluation of the potential of such fungi in the production of commercially useful, novel metabolites.

Tropical mycology is attracting increasing interest, as the key role of fungi in tropical ecosystems and as pathogens becomes appreciated. This book is the second of two complementary volumes (Volume 1 covers Macromycetes) produced from papers given at the British Mycological Society's symposium held in Liverpool in April 2000. It describes the ecology, biology, economic dimensions and systematics of tropical Macromycetes. Written by experts in their field, the papers have been thoroughly edited and revised.

Identification of the Larger Fungi is ecologically biased in order to emphasize a rather neglected aspect of the higher fungi. The book is arranged in three parts: the agarics are dealt with first, the non-agarics next, both with particular reference to their major habitat preferences, and lastly a catalogue of those more specialised habitats which are frequently encountered. All parts are supported at the end by lists in tabular form of those species expected to be found in any one habitat. Keys to the major groups, families and genera, are included to widen the scope of the book and place the examples chosen and illustrated in the text in their position in classification.