Chapter XI 

 ASYMMETRICA 



Sub-section: FUNICULOSA 



Species included in the present section produce colonies ranging from 

 definitely floccose to almost velvety, but typically show part of their aerial 

 hyphae combined into trailing, branching, and usually anastomosing ropes 

 or funicles. Erect fascicles or coremia are not produced. Conidiophores 

 arise in part directly from the submerged mycelium, partly as terminal 

 portions of ascending aerial hyphae, and partly as branches from the char- 

 acteristic ropes of aerial vegetative hyphae, the latter predominating in 

 certain species and strains. Penicilli are consistently asymmetrical and 

 are usually branched below the level of the metulae, but differ markedly 

 in general pattern between the two series that comprise the section. Cer- 

 tain differences in colony pattern and texture are generally correlated with 

 structural differences in the penicilli. 



In one of the series, typified by Penicillium terrestre Jensen, the general 

 colony aspect approaches that of the Lanata on the one hand, and of the 

 Fasciculata on the other. Furthermore, in size and pattern, the penicilli 

 of the P. terrestre series closely approximate those developed in both of 

 these sections of the As3anmetrica. In the other series, typified by P. 

 pallidum Smith, the colonies are generally thinner and commonly develop 

 less aerial growth. The penicilli are commonly narrow, with all cellular 

 elements often laterally appressed and with .sterigmata thin, parallel, and 

 closely crowded. 



The degree of natural relationship between the Penicillium terrestre series 

 and the P. pallidum series, is doubtful. Nevertheless, since both produce 

 asymmetrical penicilli, and both are characterized by colonies more or 

 less funiculose, they may be conveniently keyed together. Whereas, 

 the P. terrestre series is undoubtedly related to other sections of the 

 Asymmetrica, members of the P. pallidwn series do not appear to bear 

 close relationship to any recognized series. They seem to represent a 

 group well apart from all others. The possibility that they may represent 

 conidial structures belonging to other genera that have by coincidence 

 assumed a fairly typical penicillate form should not be wholly disregarded, 

 although concrete evidence in support of such a view is lacking. 



Key to the Funiculosa 



I. Conidial areas in definite yellow-green, blue-green, or gray-green shades; 

 penicilli large, representing the same type as seen in the Lanata and Fas- 



445 



