This identification guide was developed for a workshop on the Hypocreales of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) that was held in association with the Annual Meeting of the Mycological Society of America in Ashville, NC, on July 23, 2004. Because species of the Hypocreales in the GSMNP are not well known, the species included in this book are those that occur in the states adjoining the park covering the majority of the southeastern United States excluding Florida. It is anticipated that this guide will be useful to those conducting the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI) of the GSMNP who will discover these species inside the Park boundaries. In addition, some relatively rare species are included that have been collected only a few times. With the intense scrutiny for microfungi, it is hoped that these rare species will be re-collected and can be more accurately characterized.

The contents of this book represent the culmination of decades of research initiated in our lifetimes by Dr. Clark T. Rogerson. The publication of Rogerson (1970, The hypocrealean fungi (Ascomycetes, Hypocreales). Mycologia 62: 865–910) synthesized the state of knowledge at that time into keys to the Hypocreales and Clavicipitales. The publication marked the beginning of a new era of research on these groups of fungi. Both Gary Samuels and Amy Rossman benefited greatly from Clark Rogerson's generosity and willingness to place his accumulated resources at their disposal. A number of scientists have contributed to the increased knowledge of hypocrealean fungi including Rosalind Lowen, New York Botanical Garden, and Hans-Josef Schroers, Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures. In addition, many studies were made possible with the help of funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) grant through the Partnership in Enhancing Expertise in Taxonomy (PEET) program specifically 9712308: 'Monographic studies of hypocrealean fungi: Hypocrea and Hypomyces' to the Pennsylvania State University. This grant supported three graduate students (Holly Chamberlain, Priscila Chaverri, Barrie Overton) and four postdoctoral fellows (Sarah Dodd, Payam Fallah, Bingsheng Lu, Kadri Põldmaa). Their individual and cooperative research revealed much diversity in the hypocrealean fungi. We are all deeply indebted to Dr. James Rodman of the United States National Science Foundation for his vision in seeing the need for and persistence in developing the PEET program.

These data are also published as a book entitled Hypocreales of the Southeastern United States: An Identification Guide by Gary J. Samuels, Amy Y. Rossman, Priscila Chaverri, Barrie E. Overton and Kadri Põldmaa (2006) available from the Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures at http://www.cbs.knaw.nl/publications/index.htm.

Browsers supported: This site has been tested using Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.x and 6.0, Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 for Mac, and Netscape Navigator 4.x and 6. It is best viewed with the monitor resolution set to 800 x 600 or higher. JavaScript, frames, and non-persistent (per-session) cookies must be enabled.

Suggested citation: Samuels, G.J., Rossman, A.Y., Chaverri, P., Overton, B.E., Põldmaa, K., Farr, D.F., & McCray, E.B. Hypocreales of the Southeastern United States. Systematic Mycology and Microbiology Laboratory, ARS, USDA. Retrieved February 4, 2012, from /taxadescriptions/keys/HypocrealesSoutheastIndex.cfm