680 



THE SUBDIVISIONS OF THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 



Of complex forms with ctromata we may mention Cordyceps, Xylaria, and 

 Claviceps. Cordyceps militaris and other species attack caterpillars. The germ- 

 tube having once effected an entrance into the body of the caterpillar and estab- 

 lished itself in the superficial layers begins to sprout vigorously, these sprouts being 

 carried in the blood to all parts of the body. The sprouts now grow into hyphae, 

 and gradually the whole caterpillar is replaced by a dense fungal tissue which 



Fig. 386. The Ergot of Rye, Claviceps purpurea. 



i Ear of Rye showing two sclerotia of the Fungus, a Conidia arising from the mycelium which develops around the ovary. 

 Stalked stromata arising from the sclerotium. * Longitudinal section through the head of a stroma showing the peri- 

 thecia at the edge, s Vertical section through two perithecia showing the asci. Asci. * Ascus liberating its filamentous 

 spores, s Filamentous spores. , nat. size ; a x 200 ; * x 40 ; * x 50 ; and * x 700 ; x 760. (Partly after Tulasne. ) 



maintains outwardly the form and appearance of the caterpillar, although of animal 

 substance but little traces are left. This fungal mass is known as a sclerotium, and 

 it can remain dormant for some time. - Ultimately a branching stroma arises from 

 the sclerotium (Cordyceps Taylori, fig. 385 \ p. 679), or, in C. militaris, several club- 

 shaped stromata. These remarkable stromata are covered with little papillae on 

 their lower portion, and each of these papillae corresponds to a perithecium 

 (figs. 385 2 and 385 3 ). The spores in the asci are long and slender (cf. fig. 385 4 ). A 



