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Semimorula liquescens is a modified echinostelid myxomycete (Mycetozoa)

     University of Oxford, Department of Zoology, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, United Kingdom

Edward F. Haskins

     Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195

Jan Pawlowski

     University of Geneva, Department of Zoology and Animal Biology, 30, Quai E-Ansermet, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland

Thomas Cavalier-Smith

     University of Oxford, Department of Zoology, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, United Kingdom

The enigmatic Semimorula liquescens E.F. Haskins, McGuin. & C.S. Berry has been isolated repeatedly from dried infructescences of Lythrum salicaria collected from Seattle and Kirkland, Washington. Detailed developmental, morphological and ultrastructural studies suggested that it represents a taxon within Mycetozoa, closely allied with Myxogastria (Myxomycetes) but with unique characteristics. Phylogeny based on two genes places it with confidence in family Echinosteliidae. This species differs from a typical Echinostelium in the way spores germinate and in the lack of a stalked sporophore, the latter being a secondary loss. Semimorula liquescens therefore might be a useful negative model to search for genes inducing stalk formation during sporulation.

Key words: EF1A gene, Myxogastria, phylogeny, slime molds, SSU rRNA gene