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Mucorales

Mucorales

9.9
A group of fungi that often grow on rotting plants and sometimes make people sick
  • noun
  • /ˌmjuːkəˈreɪliz/
  • Specialized
: Mucorales
  • The causative organisms are members of the family Mucoraceae, which belongs to the order Mucorales of the class Zygomycetes.
  • order Mucorales

Examples

  • Mucormycosis is caused by fungi of the orders Mucorales and Entomophthorales; among the genera are Absidia, Mucor, and Rhizopus.

    Academic text (2006)
  • The fungi that belong to the order Mucorales can often be found on decaying organic matter.

  • Mucormycosis refers to any fungal infection of the order Mucorales.

    Academic text (2004)
  • One form of acute invasive sinusitis caused by fungi of the order Mucorales is known as mucormycosis.

    Academic text (2004)
  • Mucormycosis, caused by fungi that belong to the order Mucorales, is perhaps the most recognized example of post-disaster fungal soft tissue infection.

    Academic text (2014)
  • Infections caused by the fungi of the order Mucorales can be particularly dangerous for those with weakened immune systems.

  • Fungi from the Mucorales order are important decomposers in many ecosystems.

Synonyms

order Mucorales
vsMucorales
  • Specialized
9.6

A group of fungi that grow on dead plants and food, like bread mold

is broader, noting both saprophytic species and some disease causing forms

Compounds

order Mucorales
  • Specialized
9.6

A group of fungi that grow on dead plants and food, like bread mold

Surface Forms

Mucorales singular
Mucorales plural

Morphology

Mucorales = Mucor (opaque) = Mucor + ales

Formed by adding the specialized taxonomic suffix '-ales' to the genus name 'Mucor'; the meaning 'an order of fungi' relies on scientific nomenclature not regular English derivation and is unlikely to be obvious to a general learner.

Etymology

Mucorales comes from the Latin word mucor, meaning 'mold' or 'mildew', plus the scientific ending -ales, meaning 'order'. So Mucorales literally names a group of mold fungi, which fits because these fungi often grow on decaying things and some can cause infections.