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394 PHARMACEUTICAL BOTANY 
globular spore heads. The globular vesicle of the spore head 
bears radially arranged, branched sterigmata that cut off from 
their tips chains of rounded black to dark brown conidia 3.5 to 
5u in diameter. This fungus has been found to produce sup- 
purative inflammation of the external and middle portion of 
the human ear. It is also a cause of cork disease, so often impart- 
ing a disagreeable taste to bottled beverages. 
This mold, however, is of considerable economic importance. 
While a number of molds produce citric and oxalic acids from 
Fic. 293.—The morel, Morchella esculenta. (Gager, from photo by W. A. Murrill.) 
sugars, Aspergillus niger is especially active in this direction and 
selected strains of it are used commercially in the production of 
citric acid on a large scale. 
Orper 4.—TuBERALES, the truffles. Fungi whose septate 
mycelium is often connected with the roots of trees forming the 
structure known as mycorrhiza. Several species of the genus 
Tuber growing in woods of France, Germany and Italy produce 
tuberous subterranean bodies called Truffles, which are highly 
prized as a table delicacy by the inhabitants of these countries. 
OrpER 5.—HELVELLALES, the saddle fungi. Fleshy fungi 
entirely saprophytic, living attached to leaf mold or growing in 
humus soil or, in a few cases, on decaying wood. The fleshy 
fruiting bodies (ascocarps) are divided into stalk (stipe) and cap 
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