Historical remarks, orginal description and last advances on Pleurotus nebrodensis

Giuseppe Inzenga, the scientist who first described Pleurotus nebrodensis, was one of the major mycologists of the second half of the 19th century. This chapter describes the main biographical aspects of the life of Inzenga and its contribution to science with particular reference to mycology. The chapter also includes notes on the social and academic context of the mid-1800s, which led Inzenga to the original description of P. nebrodensis, the analysis of the critical aspects of nomenclature and the logical path that led us to the recent designation of a P. nebrodensis epitype. An updated description of the taxon and the discovery of the loci classici of P. nebrodensis collections is also reported.