THE GENUS ASPE11GILLUS. 



39 



gradually turns brown. The peculiarities of the conidiophores, 

 sterigmata and conidia enables the species to be distinguished with 

 comparative ease from most others, A.flavus alone being similar. 

 The clavate or spherical globule, which varies in size and shape, 

 usually exhibits no 

 definite line of de- 

 marcation from the 

 smooth or finely 

 granular, pale stem. 

 The sterigmata are 

 radial or in small 

 conidiophores 

 confined to the 

 summit and point- 

 ing upward ; slen- 

 der, simple, large, 

 yellowish green, 

 spherical conidia 

 (6-7 fji thick, smooth 

 or finely granular), 

 undergoing c o n- 

 striction into chains 

 which rapidly fall 

 asunder ; the size 

 and form, however, 

 vary considerably. 

 The green heads 

 may measure over 

 100 p across, with 

 globule up to 80 f.i 



in diameter, though FlG ' i66.-Aspergillus oryx*. 



often much smaller J - 2 - Conidiophores with clavate and almost spherical 



nailer, globule> 2 . i n optical section. 3-5. Development of a 



appear in all Size.*. small couidiophore, distension of the hypha, protrusion 



The sterigmata on o sterigmata and incipient formation of conidia. in. 



11 5 i i Optical section of tough stem. 6. Sterigma. 7. Conidial 



herbage, slightly magnified. 8. Couidia. Approximate 



heads measure I 2- magn. of 1-5, 75 ; of 6, 400 ; of 8, 900. (After Wehmer.) 

 20 by 4-5 ^u, and 



therefore differ greatly from the short, compact sterigmata of A. 

 glaucus. No ascospores or sclerotia have yet been observed ; and 

 the same applies to budding cells (the alleged Sake " yeast " ), 

 which, though frequently stated to exist, have never yet been 

 described with any precision. Malformations of the conidio- 

 phores (forked stem, outgrowth of sterigmata to filaments or 

 delicate conidiophores, and also branching) .ore not infrequent. 

 This species secretes a very active diastase (see ^90) ; it has been 

 recommended and tried as a malt substitute in Europe as well 

 as in the Orient, KORSCHELT'S first report (II.) in this connection 

 (1876) having been succeeded by a number of chemico-physio- 



