Polypores in this collection have been gathered since 1979 mostly by the author in the vicinity of Hluboká nad Vltavou, in nearby Šumava mountains, and in some other localities in the Czech and Slovak Republics. Later, other collectors added specimens from various countries of the world. Especially quite extensive is the collection of polypores from the USA provided with the help of author's son Josef (also a designer of these www-pages) and his wife Katerina, who both live in USA.

The home page contains links to ten alphabetical sections containing tables, each with a list of collected species. Species in this table then contain links to a site that shows information about collected specimens for that particular specie. ID number (YYMM/UV) of each specimen indicates the year (YY) and month (MM) when it was collected and its sequence number (UV) in the month. YY13/UV means that it was not possible to identify with certainty the month of collection in the written record of collection circumstances in the respective year YY. These written records, as well as the results of microscopic examinations and species-dedicated-box codes are not presented. Specimens consisting of several parts are indicated: UVa,b,… Sometimes, original marks of other colectors are used behind / that may have somewhat different form. Collector’s name, if different from author’s, is shown in the form of a coma and a letter code behind the ID.

Dried and freeze-sterilized specimens are sealed in polyethylene bags, placed in „species-dedicated-boxes“ and kept in author’s house. For most species, the collecting strategy was to have several typical specimens and some very untypical, as well as some growing on uncommon substrates. Only a few very rare species were collected each time. The number of specimens in the collection therefore does not correspond to the occurrence of the species.

An attempt is presented to characterize the occurrence by giving both the data from a survey book: F. Kotlaba: Geographic Distribution and Ecology of Polypores in Czechoslovakia, 1984 (in Czech) and estimates noted by the author during 25 years of collecting polypores. There are many polypore species in Czech Republic that occur only in one or two very special localities, but some are common there (many „sites“) and some are rare. For this reason the term „locality“, defined usually as a small wooded area, park, or a natural preserve is differentiated from the term „site“: usually a distinct tree where the polypore grew. The data are relevant for the Czech and Slovak Republics and only authors own experience is taken into account.

Several of author’s favorite localities in Czech and Slovak Republics are described to some extent. Link to US localities map is added, too. IDs of specimens cited in mycological publications are colored and the reference appears after moving mouse over the ID. Substrates that were very unusual - "unique substrate" or less common - "uncommon substrate" for a given specie are also coloured. In the ten alphabetical sections a menu can be used to highlight species found in some selected localities, collected by other collectors, collected on unique or uncommon substrates etc.