TRICHOPHYTONEAE 



453 



The so-called endoeonidiiim (not to be confused with a true endoconidium 

 which is altog-ether different in origin) is an arthrospore with a slightly thick- 

 ened wall. 



The term " chlamydospore " has been used for many different types of 

 spore, most of which have a thickened wall and serve, as do the arthrospores, 

 to carry the fungus over unfavorable environmental conditions. The so-called 

 lateral ehlamydospores are really terminal chlamydospores (Fig. 81) formed 

 on short branches, the terminal portions of which are the chlamydospores, the 

 remainder forming the pedicels which may or may not be separate cells. The 

 intercalary^ chlamydospore represents a further degeneration where a swol- 

 len intercalary cell functions as a chlamydospore (Fig. 82). 



Fig. 83. — Showing closterospores and their transition to chlamydospores. 1, 2, Favotri- 

 ctiophyton violaceum; S, i, Megatrichophyton roseum var. vinosum ; 5, Achorion Schoenleini; 6-8, 

 Endodermophyton tropicale; 9, Trichophyton flavumj 10-12, Trichophyton tonsurans. (After 

 Ota & Langeron 1923.) 



The closterospore is the most typical organ of the group, although its 

 morphologic significance is obscure. It may be a wholly asexual reproductive 

 spore, such as the phragmospore which it resembles in form. Probably when 

 the life history- of the whole group of these organisms is more fully known, it 

 will be found homologous to some structure connected with the sexual act, 

 such as a degenerated ascogonium or antheridium. It is a multinucleate struc- 

 ture suggesting in form the gametangium of the primitive Endomycetales 

 {Spermophthora) . It soon divides into 2-5 cells (Fig. 83), each containing 2-5 

 nuclei. On germination the number of nuclei in each cell multiplies rapidly 

 while many germ tubes are produced in a manner suggestive of the multiplica- 

 tion of nuclei and the development of germ tubes in an ascogonium. As we ■ 

 follow the degeneration stages either of a single culture on unsuitable media. 



