REPRODUCTION 19 



may arise in this way. It is this peculiarity which 

 has led to the name Schizomycetes, which means 

 splitting or fission fungi, being applied to this group of 

 organisms. 



The dividing partition in the case of elongated forms 

 of bacteria is placed across the shortest diameter. Very 

 frequently several generations produced by such division 

 remain attached to each other instead of separating into 

 individual, isolated bacteria. Many round or coccus forms 

 divide regularly in one direction and give rise to longer 

 or shorter chains included under 

 the term streptococci. Cocci occur- 

 ring in pairs are termed diplococci. 

 Sometimes the divisions are irregular 

 although in one plane, and groups 

 are produced which are often spoken 

 of as staphylococci. In some cocci 

 division of the cell into four 

 daughter cells occurs by two par- 



.... . 1 , , FIG. 10. Chains of bacilli. 



titions at right angles to each 



other ; such are termed pediococci. In other kinds 

 separation into eight cells takes place by division in 

 three directions of space, ancj as in this class the cells 

 of successive generations usually remain attached to each 

 other, cubical packets or bundles of cocci are produced ; 

 they are classed under the name sarcince (Fig. 9). As 

 previously stated, bacteria and bacilli which are longer 

 than broad in the majority of cases separate by division 

 plates which are placed across the cell transversely. If 

 the cells produced remain attached, long thread-like 

 filaments are formed (Fig. 10). Longitudinal division 

 also occurs among bacteria, but only very exceptionally. 

 The rate at which vegetative reproduction takes place 



