Language: Finnish with English abstract
All the 213 species of myxomycetes found in Finland are described in this identification book. In the first section the morphology, biology and ecology of myxomycetes are discussed, and advice how to collect and identify them is given. Keys to the classes and genera follow. Genera and species are described under the classes in alphabetical order. Standard Finnish names are given to all the species. Earlier, only two species Fuligo septica and Lycogala epidendrum had a common name.
Macroscopic and microscopic characteristics are outlined according to a file kept since the year 1974 by the first author. The file includes cards of specimens collected in Finland and abroad, for instance in Gambia, Turkey, Tanzania and China. The descriptions of the species rare in Finland are modified according to international literature. The second author has studied all the Finnish herbaria including myxomycete collections, and gathered information for a table of distribution and the month of collection of each species.
Almost all the species are presented with colour illustrations. The drawings are made by the authors and the editor of Suomen limasienet, Tuomo Niemelä. The photographs are taken by the 21 amateurs and professionals listed on the title page. Sincere thanks to all of them. At the end of Suomen limasienet you can find a table of distribution of the species in Finland, explanations of the terms used, an annotated list of selected identification books, and an index to the species.