434 AQUATIC PHYCOMYCETES 



borne like the sporangium on the rhizoidal system, thick-walled, 

 stellate, asexually formed or sexually after conjugation of thalli by 

 means of rhizoidal anastomosis, upon germination functioning as a 

 prosporangium; contributing thallus remaining small. 



A monotypic genus; the single species known only in insect exuviae 

 and on chitin bait. 



Antikajian (1949) contends that her failure to find sexuality in her 

 material of Asterophlyctis sarcoptoides is sufficient reason for removing 

 the genus from its allies, Siphonaria and Rhizoclosmatium, and placing 

 it in some sort of merger with Rhizidium and Phlyctochytrium. This 

 separation from its obviously near relatives has little to recommend it. 

 Karling's (1945d) earlier suggestion of combining both Asterophlyctis 

 and Rhizoclosmatiwn with Siphonaria might prove feasible in the future 

 when more is known about the species making up these genera. 



Asterophlyctis sarcoptoides H. E. Petersen 

 Journ. de Botanique, 17: 218, figs. 3-8. 1903 



Sporangium irregularly stellate, colorless, with a variable number of 

 broadly conical or acute, often thick-walled, refractive protuberances, 

 17-28 \l broad by 18-25 \i high (rarely 52 by 33 [x); rhizoids originating 

 from one or two (opposite) stout main axes extending from the spher- 

 ical or subspherical (6-11 \x [rarely 13 \x] in diameter) apophysis, much 

 branched, 100 ;jl or more in length; zoospores broadly ellipsoidal to 

 subspherical, 5 [x long by 2-3 [jl in diameter, with a centric or eccentric 

 colorless globule and a long (35 [j.) flagellum, emerging through a basal 

 or lateral pore 4-5 jj. in diameter, movement a swift darting or hopping; 

 resting spore like the sporangium in shape but with a thicker wall, 

 protuberances up to 9 jx long, acute, nearly solid, functioning as a 

 prosporangium upon germination, the sporangium evenly contoured 

 or forming a few spinelike protuberances; contributing thallus when 

 formed somewhat ovoid, 5 \x high by 4 [i in diameter, thin-walled, 

 apophysis and rhizoidal system poorly developed. 



Saprophytic in empty submerged exuviae of Phryganeidae (caddis 

 flies), Petersen (loc. cit., 1909: 415, fig. 21e; 1910: 549, fig. 21e), Sparrow 

 (1937a: 26, text fig. 1 a-k, pi. 1, figs. 13-16, 19), Denmark; Chiro- 



