28 



GENERAL MORPHOLOGY. 



discovery that the chlamydospores, when submerged, develop to 

 a budding mycelium, and not to the typical form. 



In most cases the germination of the oidia is purely vegeta- 

 tive ; it is illustrated in Fig. 109. In many fungi, certain 

 Mucorinete in particular, they are, however, also capable of 

 fructificative germination when placed under the same condi- 

 tions as the chlamydospores. 



Tenacity of life, i.e. capacity for withstanding adverse con- 

 ditions, is generally higher in spores than in the corresponding 



Fig. 108.- 



-Chlamydoniucor raceniosns 

 Brefeld. 



Chain of five chlamydospores, each of 

 which has put forth a sporangiophore. 

 The sporangium of d is still unripe ; whilst 

 that in c is already destroyed, only the 

 columella (e) and eight endospores being 

 left. Magn. 120. (After Brefeld.) 



Fig. 109. — Chlamydomucor racemosus 

 Brefeld. 



Vegetative germination of a chain of 

 eleven oidia. Magn. So. {After Brefeld.) 



mycelia. Bibliographical collections on this point ai'e given by 

 A. DE Bary (L), W. Zopf (X.), W. Pfeffer (III.), and others ; 

 but only a few instances can be mentioned here. With regard 

 to resistance towards drought and desiccation, the premier place, 

 so far as is yet known, is occupied by the Anixiopsis stercoraria 

 discovered and investigated by E. Ch. Hansen (XXVII.). The 

 ascospores of this congener of ordinary bread mould proved still 

 capable of germination after storage in a dry state for twenty- 

 one years. The same observer also found life retained by the 

 conidia of Asperf/iUus c/laucus after sixteen years' quiescence, and 

 by those of A^peviiiUns flavescens for eight years (but not longer) ; 

 whilst EiDAM (III.) found the conidia of AsjJerr/illus fmnigatas 

 alive after ten years; Brefeld (IV.) those of Aspergillus flavus 

 after six years; C. Wehmer (IX.) those of Aspergillus oryzoe 

 after more than four years, those of Aspergilliis niger after about 

 three years, and of Aspergilhis Wentii after more than a year. 

 Of course these findings do not apply to each individual spore of 

 the species in question, the weaker specimens dying off at far 

 earlier periods than those mentioned. With regard to the re- 



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