-A filamentous fungus classified within the order Mucorales.
Ecology;
Syncephalastrum species are saprobes commonly isolated from animal dung and soil primarily in tropical or subtropical regions.
Macroscopic;
Very rapid growth - mature within 3 days. Abundant aerial hyphae gives a wooly or cotton candy-like texture. Pale to dark grey shades on the surface with a white or pale reverse.
Microscopic;
- Broad hyphae -septa absent or rare.
- Sporangiophores are 10-25 µm wide, often branched, having a terminal vesicle up to 80 µm in diameter, which produce finger shaped merosporangia (4-6 µm by 9-35 µm) over the entire surface.
- Sporangiospores (merospores) are round and formed in a linear series, between 3 to 18 in number within in the interior of the merosporangia. They are smooth in texture, pale brown, spherical to oval, ~3-7 µm in diameter.
- Rhyzoids are usually present
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBF_VbpGTbnAE1_gFC5uXhwZsnopgxAYn089g8hynuJYWJ9BfBA_uMkfJCn-XBUO_ha0VGytg5EQCxVfjoTjBIAjVU1HacmvoSGiSKc3BMwkcGwwdblSYh_qkzJlzcCET3vNGfJ589Yc/s400/Synscphalestrum+1.jpg)
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8THbjnL_FYsnvvU3syBRs_d_uzdHEn27pncQ22c2-uSIT8R9dvvyjmjahswY1_6kWuBr-2uC3oZqBpoWd0oqlY-aaVY4Xlr_dfGkOfFA6vyn6kxE62uC0ak_30qYZV57WlbAqV79tjO4/s400/Syncepahastrum+_5.jpg)
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-whElY14o8lVIzVYO6vzQQnbA8aF0w-X5RUgaFjBaZW_WzItiYV8nve5hlpNySOmPPjVLHsUKq2zZskOJLXkx14lzK9WrGvFBePOY4N7J1LTOER27AAAFZrzOMuhjCC9cYmj1Gve_NgE/s400/Syncepalastrum_2.jpg)
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN2RLOG_IPzYgPptTh-dP5x-icwxHGw4HO7o1H2L4aZlYa1RoLzNA8PICjhHolAPUjLHqyRy8CyNzXuYglFJFNoHEjOeG4-zFIJTUaYOSrlgQtZIme1htClYbkffboqmstHW-_9tpK4I4/s400/Syncepalastrum+_4.jpg)
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Considered to be non-pathogenic to humans although a case of cutaneous infection has been reported (Kalama & Thambiah 1980). May be found as a contaminant.