He is the taxonomic authority of Sordariaceae, a family of perithecial fungi.[3] In 1880 he described the order Ustilaginales (smut fungi).[4] He also conducted anatomical and morphological research of crustoselichens.[1] and was editor of several exsiccatae.[5] Two examples are the large specimen series named L. Rabenhorstii fungi Europaei et extraeuropaei exsiccati, Klotzschii herbarii vivi mycologici continuatio. Editio nova. Series secunda (1881–1886).[6] and the exsiccata Schweizerische Kryptogamen. Unter Mitwirkung mehrerer Botaniker. Gesammelt und herausgegeben von Dr. B. Wartmann und B. Schenk (1880-1882), which he issued together with Friedrich Bernhard Wartmann.[7]
From 1871 to 1879, he was co-editor of the journal "Hedwigia", from 1879 until his death, he served as its editor.[2] With Anton de Bary and Heinrich Rehm, he was co-author of Die Pilze Deutschlands, Oesterreichs und der Schweiz.[8]
