: Information on significant mycologists and major reference collections. Evolution of the Work
The (officially Ainsworth & Bisby's Dictionary of the Fungi ) is widely considered the "Bible" of mycology. Since its first publication in 1943, it has served as the essential reference for the classification, nomenclature, and terminology of the fungal kingdom. Core Purpose & Scope
The dictionary provides a comprehensive list of all fungal and lichen generic names. For every accepted genus, it details: Dictionary of the Fungi
: Starting with the 6th edition (1971), lichens were fully integrated into the fungal system.
: Recent editions, such as the 9th and 10th, moved away from conservative classification to adopt molecular phylogenetics , which has drastically changed how orders and families are defined. : Information on significant mycologists and major reference
For researchers and students, the book is a standard requirement because it summarizes vast amounts of literature into a single, workable system. It is often used alongside digital databases like Index Fungorum and Species Fungorum , which continue to update fungal names and classifications in real-time following the retirement of the book's long-term editors.
: Year of publication, distribution, and an estimate of the number of species. Core Purpose & Scope The dictionary provides a
: Its place within the current taxonomic hierarchy.