AN HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF SOUTHERN AFRICAN SYSTEMATIC MYCOLOGY

SUMMARY

Fungi were first collected for scientific study in southern Africa only in the late 1700s. In the monumental catalogue: “South African Fungi and Lichens to the end of 1945”, Doidge summarised the earliest mycological history of this country. To supplement her work Gorter compiled a bibliography of South African mycological publications for the period 1946 to 1977. The present paper briefly summarises developments since 1977 in terms of the taxonomy, nomenclature and mycobiotic surveys of all groups of fungi, including human and animal pathogens. It pays particular attention to specific habitats such as soil, fresh water, composts and animal dung as well as mycorrhizas. Although we have amassed valuable information about fungi that have an obvious economic impact, the majority remains undiscovered. Non-morphological taxonomy, including molecular and biochemical characters, will help us to expand our knowledge and understanding of the local mycobiota.