Introduction to Fungi, Third Edition

SPIZELLOMYCETALES
145
Fig 6.13 Nowakowskiella elegans.
(a) Polycentric mycelium bearing
zoosporangia. (b) Empty zoosporangia
showing opercula. (c) Mycelium showing
turbinate cells and zoosporangia.
(d) Zoospores from culture. (e) Resting
sporangium from culture.
sulphate and a number of carbohydrates including
cellulose, but cannot utilize starch.
6.3 Spizellomycetales
Members of this order differ from the
Chytridiales in possessing zoospores which
contain more than one lipid droplet and are
capable of limited amoeboid movement. Thalli
are generally monocentric. The order takes its
name from the genus Spizellomyces which in turn
was named in honour of the chytrid pioneer
F. K. Sparrow after Spizella, a genus of North
American sparrows (Barr, 1980). Some 86 species
of Spizellomycetales are currently recognized.
6.3.1 Olpidium
About 30 species of Olpidium are known, but
the genus is in need of revision and possibly