THALLOPHYTES: FUNGI 



49 



have been so modified by their parasitic and saprophytic 

 habits that they hare lost all likeness to the Algae, and 

 their connection with them is very obscure. 



37. The plant body. — Discarding certain problematical 

 forms, to be mentioned later, the bodies of all true Fungi 

 are organized upon a uniform general plan, to which they 

 can all be referred (Fig. 32). A set of colorless branching 



Fig. 32. A diagrammatic representation of Jfucm; showing the profusely branching 

 mycelium, and three vertical hyphse (sporophores), sporangia forming on b and c. 

 —After Zopp. 



filaments, either isolated or interwoven, forms the main 

 working body, and is called the m ycelium . The interweav- 

 ing may be very loose, the mycelium looking like a delicate 

 cobweb ; or it may be close and compact, forming a felt-like 

 mass, as may often be seen in connection with preserved 

 fruits. The individual threads are called hyphw (singular, 

 hypha) or hyphaJ threads. The mycelium is in contact with 

 its source of food supply, which is called the substratum. 





