CRYPTOGAMS 



187 



follow a spore to its destination and observe its develop- 

 ment, we should find that after soaking up some of the 

 juices of the bread it germinates by putting out a trans- 

 parent hypha (Fig. 306). The hypha grows by further 

 absorption of food matter, increases rapidly in length, 



303. Bread Mold : S, a sporangium ; r, rootlike organs. 



branches repeatedly, and thus ultimately develops into a 

 complex mycelium running over the bread and sending 

 hyphse into the interior. All portions of this mycelium 

 may be in communication internally, for there are no 

 cross walls, or septa. In this respect Rhizopus is like 

 Vaucheria. 



446. Reproduction. Special erect filaments are soon 

 sent up, at the summits of which white globular sporangia 



A B c 



304. A, young sporangium ; B, section of a mature 

 sporangium ; C, sporangium after rupture of 

 the exterior membrane (w). 



305. A spore of Bread 

 Mold, more high- 

 ly magnified. 



are formed (Figs. 303, 304). At maturity both turn 

 black. The numerous spores are ovate bodies (Fig. 

 305), covered with cell walls which protect them from 



