many nuclei. The conidiophore ends in the interior 

 of the sporangium with a swelling like a ninepin. 

 This swelling is called the columella. The wall of 

 the sporangium is rough with minute particles of 

 Calcium oxalate (Ca C2 O4). 



ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION. 



The contents of the sporangium (protoplasm 

 and nuclei) gradually separate into a number of 

 masses, each of which secretes a cellulose wall {free 

 eell formation). The cells thus produced are termed 

 ''spores"; these are the reproductive organs, and 

 being produced asexually are known as conidia 

 (gonidia). Each conidium on germinating gives 

 birth to a new Mucor. The conidia while in the 

 sporangium are separate fi'om each other, the spaces 

 between them being occupied by a thin protoplasmic 

 material. The sporangium now dehisces, being 

 easily ruptured, and the conidia are dispersed ; the 

 greater part of the sporangium wall disappears, but 

 a small collar frequently adheres to the conidiophore. 



Germination. — Each conidium. is ellipsoidal in 

 shape, has a thin fungus-cellulose coat which en- 

 closes a cavity containing protoplasm and one or two 

 nuclei. 



(1) The conidium sioells to a tenfold size, becomes 

 globular, and contains cell sap in the form of 

 a large central vacuole. 



