THALLOPHYTES : FUNGI 



53 



Erect sporophores arise from it in abundance, and at 

 the top of each sporophore a globular sporangium is formed, 

 within which are numerous small asexual spores (Figs. 35, 



Fig. 34. Di» gram showing mycelium and sporophores of a common Mucor. — 

 Caldwell. 



36). The sporangium wall bursts (Fig. 37), the light spores 

 are scattered by the wind, and, falling upon a suitable sub- 

 stratum, germinate and 

 form new mycelia. It is 

 evident that these asex- 

 ual spores are not zoo- 

 spores, for there is no 

 water medium and swim- 

 ming is impossible. This 

 method of transfer being 

 impossible, the spores are 

 scattered by currents of 

 air, and must be corre- 

 spondingly light and pow- 

 dery. They are usually 



J - Fie 3d. Forming sporangia of J/>/«)r. show- 



Spoken Of simply as ing the swollen tip of the sporophore ■.-!>. 



" spores," without any " Dd 8 later 8tage iB) - in which a wal1 is 



r J formed separating the sporangium from 



prefix. the rest of the body.— Caldweja, 



