#  HUH Seminar Series - Rachel Swenie 

 



####  calendar\_today Date and Time 

 **February 25, 2026** 

 12:00PM - 01:00PM EST 

####  pin\_drop Location 

 **HUH Seminar Room 125, 22 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA**  

Zoom: https://tinyurl.com/32h6ya2e

 

 

 



 

   ![Rachel Swenie](/sites/g/files/omnuum6796/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-02/Rachel_wTomentella_cropped.jpg?itok=_X5GvyNA) 

 

**Rachel Swenie**  
Farlow Fellow  
Harvard University

**Title**: From Sequences to Species: Taxonomy and Genetic Diversity of North American *Thelephora*

**Abstract**: The fungal genus *Thelephora* is an enigmatic lineage of ectomycorrhizal fungi that form mushrooms or crust-like fruiting structures. Previous taxonomic research on *Thelephora* has largely focused on Europe, and around 80 species have been described from North America. However, a recent study assessing global fungal diversity based on soil metagenomic data estimated there exist an astounding 40,000 *Thelephora* species— more than the total number of described species of mushroom-forming fungi. In this talk, I will discuss ongoing attempts to ground truth this estimate and uncover North American species diversity in this ubiquitous but poorly known group of fungi.



 

 



 

 See also:- [ Herbaria Seminar Series ](/calendar/taxonomy/term/20301)
 
 

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