Chapter II. 



Fungi. Reproduction. 



The fungus method of reproduction. Fungi reproduce by 

 means of very small bodies of microscopic size, which are 

 known as spores.* All of the spores of fungi are not similar in 

 origin, structure or appearance, but differ in these respects 

 very considerably. Some spores are pinched off. as it were, of 

 special fungus threads, often in rows, as in the summer spores 

 of mildews. Others, again, are formed in cases, as in the small 

 black heads of black molds; or in sacs, as in the morels and 

 cup fungi. Again, a spore may be formed as the result of a 

 breeding act i. e.. the fusion of two sexual elements which 

 may be both alike or may be male and female. Some spores 

 are provided with fine thread-like processes and by whipping 

 these about can swim around in the water. Such spores are 

 found in the potato-blight and in many water-inhabiting forms, 

 as fish-molds. Many spores are capable of germinating im- 

 mediately while others require a long rest period and are there- 

 fore provided with thick protective coats. The summer or 

 red-rust spores of grass rusts commence to grow as soon as 

 they are ripe, if the conditions are otherwise favorable, and this 

 fact accounts in part for the rapid spread of rust in certain 

 seasons. The winter spores of rust, or black rust. ha\v thick 

 protective coats and usually rest over until the following 

 spring, when they continue their further development. 



In the bread-mold and its allies, in the fish molds and in the 

 potato-blight relatives, no complex organs are formed upon 

 which the spores, whether pinched off or in cases, may be ag- 



*The term Sjiore migiit U-.-tUr. as is adv 

 equivalents of the spore of the moss sp >n'H< 

 tion would exclude the term from the rt-aln 

 ac st>ores if the sac funtii an.l certain v 

 sporidia of tl 1 ? rusts. Convenience and cstal li 

 letention of this teiin in the older and c-.inn 



led Sy many botanists, lie retained for the 

 mi and all other sporophytes. This restric- 

 f fun^i with the exception of perhaps the 

 I th<- aln.il fun^i. and perhaps also lite 

 hcd ii.-t.iKe would si-cm to counsel here the 

 ly accepted sense. 



