Rhizopus
/ˈrʌɪzə(ʊ)pəs/noun
A genus of zygomycete fungi (order Mucorales), the members of which are saprobic and include species which cause rots in fruit and vegetables and opportunistic infections (mucormycosis) in humans and other animals.
Origin
Mid 19th century. From scientific Latin Rhizopus from rhizo- + ancient Greek πούς foot, probably in allusion to the long stolon-like hyphae of the fungus.