276 



GENERAL MORPHOLOGY OF PLANTS 



bearer (Mucor stolonifer, another technical name sometimes ap 

 plied). The name Rhizopus is given to the plant because of the 

 rhizoids at the foot of the sporophores. 



Fig. 220. 



A njucor (Rhizopus nigricans); at left, nearly mature sporangium with columella, showing 

 within; in the middle is ruptured sporangium with some of the gonidia clinging to the colum- 

 mella; at right, two ruptured sporangia with everted columella. 



417. Germination of the spores and character of the 

 mycelium. The spores germinate when the temperature and 

 moisture conditions are suitable. They absorb water and swell 

 to a large size, then a protuberance appears on one side, which is 

 the beginning of a hypha or mycelial thread. This is called the 



Spores of Mucor, and different stages of germination. 



germ tube, because it resembles a short tube from the germinating 

 spore. This elongates quite rapidly, and branches profusely, 

 sending branches radially in all directions in the food substance, 



