Rhizophydium Species -
Interactive Pictorial List

 

Rhizophydium Species Interactive Keys -
Key 1
Key 2
Key 3
Key 4
Key 5
Key 6
Key 7

 

Literature -
Rhizophydium Species


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Identification begins with the shape of the sporangium

In dealing with what F.K. Sparrow (1960) termed "the largest and most complex genus of the chytrids," he sorted Rhizophydium species according to thallus shape among five keys for identification (Sparrow 1960. Aquatic Phycomycetes. pgs. 231-237). The following is a modification, expansion, and update of Sparrow’s (1960) keys organized into seven morphological keys for identification of Rhizophydium species. Each key represents a predominant sporangial shape, and exemplar taxa for each section are illustrated to the right of the section description. To navigate to each section key, click on the section number (below), and then double click on the species name in the key to view an illustration.

KEY TO SECTION 1:
Sporangium predominantly spherical or sub-spherical throughout development.
spherical
KEY TO SECTION 2:
Sporangium predominantly spherical at first, and urceolate after discharge.
 urceolate
KEY TO SECTION 3:
Sporangium spherical at first, then angular and upright at maturity, or angular throughout development.
 angular
KEY TO SECTION 4:
Sporangium predominantly pyriform (the part of the sporangium proximal to the substrate is broadest), conical, or pyramidal.
 pyriform
KEY TO SECTION 5:
Sporangium predominantly obovoid, obovate, or obpyriform (the part of the sporangium distal to the substrate is broadest).
 obpyriform
KEY TO SECTION 6:
Sporangium predominantly citriform (lemon-shaped) or saddle-shaped, ovoid, or oblong; the long axis of the sporangium parallel with the surface of the substratum.
 parallel
KEY TO SECTION 7:
Sporangium predominantly cylindrical, fusiform, broadly or narrowly ellipsoidal, the long axis frequently at a right angle or slightly inclined to that of the substrate.
 perpendicular
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