2 GENERAL MORPHOLOGY. 



sidered as a thallus, since they represent assemblages of many 

 uniform cells, and not separate individual organisms. 



The case is, however, different in the second division of the 

 fungus family (§ 23), namely, the Eumycetes or higher fungi. 

 These differ from the Schizomycetes in universally possessing the 

 faculty of forming true branchings. This characteristic resides 

 in the immediate and uninterrupted connection between the 

 plasma of the branch (or the oldest cell of same) and that of 

 the main stem from which the branch proceeds. The diver- 

 gence of form and the luxuriance of this branching vary in the 

 different orders of fungi, and, in general, increase the higher we 



Fig. 91.— Thallus of Mucor mucedo. 



Shows the unicellular mycelium sprung from the spore ; together with three organs 

 of fructitlcation, a, b, c, in different stages of development, raising themselves from the 

 mycelium. Magii. about 10. (After Kny.) 



get in the system and the nearer we approach the Cormophytes. 

 In the lowest members, on the other hand, this tendency is 

 often greatly simplified and restricted, thus approximating to 

 the Schizomycetes. 



A more careful examination of the thallus of the higher Eumy- 

 cetes, even with the unassisted eye, will reveal something more 

 than the existence of a more or less copious branching. It will 

 soon be found possible to dissect the thallus into two parts (Fig. 

 91), which though intimately connected serve entii'ely different 

 purposes : one, known as the mycelium, having charge of the 

 nutrition and maintenance of the individual plant ; whilst, on 



