The taxonomic position of Chlamydomyxa labyrinthuloides

Chlamydomyxa labyrinthuloides is a heterokont alga known since the last cen tury. It lives on Sphagnum and other water plants as aplanospores or plasmo dia. We have investigated the taxonomic position of Chlamydomyxa labyrinthu loides by combining results from morphological studies, pigment analyses an d a molecular phylogenetic analysis of the small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene. C hlamydomyxa labyrinthuloides shares morphological features with xanthophyte s and chrysophytes, whereas pigment composition indicates a grouping with t he phaeophytes, raphidophytes and chrysophytes. The sequence of the SSU rRN A gene and its phylogenetic reconstruction unambiguously demonstrate that C hlamydomyxa labyrinthuloides is related to the chrysophytes.