Shellability of complexes of trees (Q1268623)

Let \({\mathcal F}^{(k)}_{n}\) be a simplicial complex of dimension \(n-2\) whose facets correspond to the leaf-labelled trees with \(n\) interior vertices of degree exactly \(k+1\). This complex has interesting applications in homotopy theory, in the representation theory of symmetric groups and in the theory of free Lie \(k\)-algebras. Previously it has been proved by \textit{P. Hanlon} [J. Comb. Theory, Ser. A 74, 301-320 (1996; Zbl 0848.05021)] that \({\mathcal F}^{(k)}_{n}\) are Cohen-Macaulay. The paper under review provides a proof of shellability of \({\mathcal F}^{(k)}_{n}\). Additionally an explicit basis for the homology of this complex is obtained; this basis is equivalent to the basis constructed by \textit{P. Hanlon} and \textit{M. Wachs} [Adv. Math. 113, 206-236 (1995; Zbl 0844.17001)] for the multiplicity-free part of the free Lie \(k\)-algebra. The main result of this paper was also obtained independently by M. Wachs.