TIIALLOniYTES: FUNGI 



269 



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. 235, 



Fig. 234. 



Diagram showing mycelium and sporophores of a common Mvcor.- 



MOORB. 



I 



236). The sporangium wall bursts (Fig. 237), 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 ^ ^„. ^ . . , ,, 



*' *' . '^ Fig. 235. Forming sporangia of Mucor, show- 



Spoken of simply as Ing the swollen tip of the sporophore {A), 



" spores," without any ''"^ ^ ^*^*" ^^"^^ (^^^ "' '^'"^^ " ""'^ ^^ 



*^ formed separating the sporangium from 



prenx. the rest of the body.— Moore. 



