884 REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS OF FUNGI.—ASCOMYCETES: 
commonly selected), we find that it first produces what is known 
as the sphacelia (fig. 842). On examining a section of an ovary 
in this condition, it is seen to be almost completely surrounded 
by a dense mass of hyphal tissue, which also penetrates more or 
less into its interior, and gradually, in fact almost entirely, 
takes the place of the proper structure of the ovary—this being 
more particularly the case towards the base of the organ. 
Fia. 841. Bie. 842: 
sph 
Fig. 841. Young sclerotium, c, of Claviceps growing up and supplanting the 
old sphacelia, sph. = Pig: 842. Section through the junction of the 
sphacelia with the sclerotium of Claviceps, showing formation of conidia. 
Fia. 843. Fic. 844, 
Fig. 843. Portion of the horn-shaped sclerotium of Claviceps purpurea, or 
the Ergot Fungus, bearing four stalked receptacles.—— Fig. 844. Longi- 
tudinal section of a receptacle of the same, magnified, showing the peri- 
thecia. After Tulasne. 
From the free ends of the outer hyphez great numbers of 
conidia (fig. 842) are produced by budding, which appear to 
have the power of again producing sphacelia in other Grasses. 
Finally, the hyphal tissue becomes much more dense, this taking 
place gradually from the base to the apex, until the sclerotiwm 
