ASYMMETRICA-FUNICULOSA 



459 



Fennell is distinguished by its heavier spore production, its larger peniciUi, 

 and especially the striking color of its conidial areas which range from light 

 bluish violet through lavender to deep vinaceous depending upon the 

 substratum. 



Thorn, as reported by George Smith in his discussion of Penicillium 

 pallidum (1933), has suggested that the origin of conidiophores from foot- 

 cell-like initials may necessitate the recognition of a separate section within 

 the genus Penicillium to include these forms, together with P. varians 

 Smith (see p. 625). The penicillus of the latter species is, however, typi- 





r 









kJ^i! mm 



J 



4 



•m • 



B 



Fig. 119. A, Penicilli of Penicillium pallidum Smith, NRRL 2037, X 750. B, 

 Penicilli of P. lavendiilum Raper and Fennell, NRRL 2146, X 900. Note the con- 

 spicuously roughened conidiophore.s, the closely parallel sterigmata and the cylin- 

 drical to strongly elliptical conidia that characterize both species. 



cally biverticillate and symmetrical. In this, as in other characters, in- 

 cluding colorat on and the lanceolate pattern of its sterigmata, P. varians 

 seems to be clearly related to the P . funiculosum series of the Biverticillata- 

 Symmetrica. The examination of additional Penicillia showing conidio- 

 phores of similar origin may subsequently necessitate a revision of our 

 current views on relationships and eventually form the bases of a somewhat 

 altered classification. For the present, however, we believe it is most 

 practicable, in these cases as in all others, to base primary separation upon 

 the pattern of the penicillus, and to then assign different strains and species 

 according to whatever secondary groupings are dictated by colony texture 

 and other characteristics regarded as of secondary importance. 



