Phycomycetes

‖Phy′co‐my‐ce″tes (?), n. pl. [NL.; Gr. � seaweed + mycetes.] (Bot.) A large, important class of parasitic or saprophytic fungi, the algal or algalike fungi. The plant body ranges from an undifferentiated mass of protoplasm to a well-developed and much-branched mycelium. Reproduction is mainly sexual, by the formation of conidia or sporangia; but the group shows every form of transition from this method through simple conjugation to perfect sexual reproduction by egg and sperm in the higher forms. — Phy′co‐my‐ce″tous (#), a.