Among the molds, we can group them by their mycelia (the hyphae forming the vegetative portion of the fungus as opposed to the aerial portion). These hyphae can be referred to as septate (having cross-walls) or
aseptate (without cross-walls). Molds with septate hyphae are then grouped by their color as either hyaline (light colored or lacking color) or
dematiaceous (pigmented). In this course, the hyaline molds will be further subdivided into the
Mucorales, formerly known as
Zygomycetes (many of which are actually aseptate), the Dermatophytes, and the Other Opportunistic Hyaline Molds. The dematiaceous molds will be subdivided into slow growing (typically more pathogenic) and fast growing (usually, but not always, less pathogenic).