We combine fieldwork in temperate and tropical regions and morphological studies with molecular, phylogenetic reconstruction. Based on these phylogenetic insights, we derive taxonomic and systematic conclusions, make identification tools, descriptions and illustrations and thus provide a framework for further ecological or applied study of these fascinating organisms.

Fulfilling major roles as symbionts and saprotrophs in all known vegetation types or acting as ultra-specialized parasites of plants and animals, fungi are essential players at all levels of ecosystem functioning.

Despite that, the exact extent of their diversity is largely unknown, and with mycologists themselves becoming an endangered species, many groups of fungi and many regions across the globe still remain seriously underexplored. Much discovery work is still to be done by the present and future generations of mycologists.

Our research is specialized in the ectomycorrhizal and worldwide distributed genera Lactarius and Lactifluus (milk caps), but besides that we also contribute to the general inventorisation of macrofungi in Flanders, Belgium and to the study of several other ectomycorrhizal genera (a.o. Russula, Cantharellus, truffles,…).

News

Tuesday, September 21, 2021 - 20:54

The world around you is teeming with life you can’t see. Plants, soil, water, insects — even your hair and skin — are home to microfungi, and they... read more

Monday, April 19, 2021 - 13:30

Fungi are a large and hyper-diverse group with major taxa present in every ecosystem on earth. However, compared to other eukaryotic organisms,... read more

Tuesday, February 2, 2021 - 12:28

Fungal fossils are rare and so every find deserves a celebration. Only one fossil of Laboulbeniales is known in the literature, †Stigmatomyces... read more