Compendium of All Fungi Known to Date

September 9, 15, 850 (8V.)

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Fifty years have passed since the publication of the Friesian referring to Elias Magnus Fries, a foundational mycologist mycological system, and no work has appeared since that strives to encompass the fungi of the entire world. No mycologist is truly unaware of how much mycological observation, especially with the aid of the microscope, has increased during these fifty years Latin: "decem lustra" literally "ten five-year periods", nor how many and how great the acquisitions in the entire morphology and taxonomy of fungi have been, nor how many new species and genera have been described. It escapes no one how useful, if not necessary, any collection of such work is, wherein all species described to date may be found. I dare affirm that if such a book remains unavailable for a few more years, the entirety of mycography the description of fungi would be in grave danger of slipping into chaos. For no one can consult the countless works, pamphlets, journals, and annals where species are described daily, and as a result, either new species are established in vain, or truly new ones remain unexplored for fear of duplication, or are consigned to oblivion. Having considered these things, I made my intention to write such a work known to mycologists two years ago. And now, relying on their fervent wishes and kind encouragement, I undertake the Compendium of All Fungi. It is my intention, God willing, to complete the entire work within a decade, and indeed, abundant elements for the accomplishment of this are already in my possession. But it would be of great value to me and to science if my esteemed colleagues were willing to undertake certain parts of this laborious task: so that the entire work might appear much more quickly, and individual families of fungi might be treated more elegantly.