Chapter II 

 GENERIC DIAGNOSIS AND SYNONYMY 



Class: Ascomycetes 



Order: Plectascineae 



Family: Aspergillaceae 



Genus: Penicillium 



Class: Fungi Imperfect i 



Subclass : Hyphomycetes 

 Order: Mucedineae 



Family: Mucedinaceae 



Subfamily : Aspergilleae 

 Genus: Penicillium, 



In the first of the above schemes Penicillium is included among the as- 

 cosporic fungi where we believe it rightfully belongs. This preferred 

 classification follows Engler and Prantl (1897). 



The genus is likewise considered among the Hyphomycetes to facilitate 

 the identification of species for which no ascosporic stage is known. Since 

 the latter forms far outnumber those which produce perithecia, a successful 

 taxonomy of the genus Penicillium must be based upon an orderly arrange- 

 ment of these asexual types. Nevertheless, it is our firm belief that the 

 genus concept should be sufficiently broad to include ascosporic orginisms 

 which produce conidial structures, or penicilli, unmistakably similar to 

 those of strictly conidial strains and species. Recognition of separate 

 genera, such as Langeron's Carpenteles, to include forms producing peri- 

 thecia is unnecessary and unjustified. 



Changes in the names of class, order, and family may appear in othei 

 proposed systems, but usually without significant differences in placement. 



Geneeic Diagnosis 



By common consent the generic name Penicillium proposed by Link 

 in 1809 was promptly accepted for Hyphomycetes producing conidial 

 fructifications in the form of a brush or broom called by the Latin term, 

 the penicillus. Link failed to specify the components of the penicillus, 

 hence the name has been loosely applied to almost every mold having a 

 conidial apparatus suggestive of such a brush or broom. Since the appli- 

 cation of the name has often rested upon superficial resemblances rather 



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