Genera of Mucorales with Notes on their Synonymy

Abstract

It is the purpose of this paper to present a short synopsis of the families and genera of the Mucorales. This can be justified, for mem? bers of the order are among the most commonly encountered and most economically important phycomycetous fungi. Furthermore, there is no recent comprehensive treatment of the families and genera published in English except that of Fitzpatrick (7) and Christenberry (5), who have followed earlier European treatments. To make this contribution as useful as possible, the synonymy of the genera in the order has been given as completely as possible. Fol? lowing the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (9), the genera herein recognized are considered to be acceptable and are in general designated by those names in common use with the exception of the genus Syzygites (Sporodinia). In each case the synonyms are cited, as well as the type taxon, and an estimation of the number of species recognized in each genus. In the case of monotypic genera, therefore, the key is equivalent to that of a species key. The keys and arrangement of genera into families are the conclusions drawn from more than ten years of interest and study of the order. The author has been fortunate to have seen or to have available material