Data Elements for Mycological Specimen database

(another work in progress)

A. Taxonomic Data

Only family, genus, and species will be in the specimen database. Other taxonomic data will be included in a reference table on the web site.

1. Kingdom

Virtually all will be fungi, unless we include slime molds?

2. Division

Virtually all will be Eumycota, unless we include slime molds?

3. Subdivision

Will include Basidiomycotina and Ascomycotina

4. Class

For Basidiomycotina, will include Gasteromycetes and Hymenomycetes. For Ascomycotina, will include Discomycetes and Pyrenomycetes

5. Order

Will include:

• Agaricales
• Aphyllophorales
• Gautieriales
• Hymenogasterales
• Lycoperdales
• Nidulariales
• Pezizales
• Phallales
• Podaxales
• Sclerodermatales
• Tremallales
• Tulostomatales

6. Family Will include:

• Agaricaceae
• Amanitaceae
• Bolbitaceae
• Cantherellaceae
• Coprinaceae
• Coptinaceae
• Cortinaraceae
• Entolomataceae
• Gomphidaceae
• Hygrophoraceae
• Paxillaceae
• Pluteaceae
• Polyporaceae
• Russulaceae
• Strophariaceae
• Tricholomataceae

7. Genus

8. Species

See species list for common genus and species names

9. Synonyms

Due to changes in fungal taxonomy, a given species may have several synonyms. It would be useful to have these available for reference.

B. Collection Data

1. Who collected it

2. Who identified it

3. Date collected

4. Location where collected 4.a Lat/Long consistent with plant atlas 4.b A short description like "Dos Picos Park" or "San Luis Rey picnic area"

5. Substrate

For example, "wood", "soil", "another fungus", etc.

6. Habitat

Short description like Oak woodland, lawn, meadow, etc.

7. Abundance, like one, a few, lots, etc

C. Specimen Data

1. Description of material, like how many of what (for example, 3 caps, part of a clump, or whatever).

2. Is there a photograph(s)? a. with the specimen, b. on the computer

3. Is there a spore print with the specimen? Color?

4. Technical description including shape, color, size, etc.

This is probably not absolutely necessary, but might be useful. We need to decide how much it is worth trying to include. I would favor providing for more information rather than less, with the understanding that it may not be filled in completely for all specimens. It will be most useful in cases where the identification is shaky or non-existent.

5. Results of a microscopic examination of spores and/or tissue

See comment under 4 above.