264 



PHARMACEUTICAL BOTANY 



conidia 2.5 to 3^ in diameter. Harshberger 1 cites the presence of 

 perithecia in this organism which are nut-brown, globular, 250 to 

 350/4 in diameter, and inclose oval thin-skinned asci with eight red 

 lenticular ascospores each of which has a diameter of 4 to 5^. 



Aspergillus niger (Sterigmatocystis niger) develops dark, brown 

 mycelial masses in which are to be noted slender conidiophores bear- 

 ing handle-shaped, branched sterigmata that cut off from their tips 

 chains of rounded black-brown conidia 3.5 to 5/x in diameter. This 

 fungus has been found to produce suppurative inflammation of the 



FIG. 137. The morel, Morchella esculenta. (Gager, from photo byW.A. Murrill.) 



external and middle portions of the human ear. It is also a cause of 

 cork disease, so often imparting a disagreeable taste to bottled 

 beverages. 



Order 4. Tuberales, the truffles. Fungi whose septate mycelium 

 is often connected with the roots of trees forming the structure 

 known as mycorrhiza. Several species of the genus Tuber growing 

 in woods of France, Germany and Italy produce tuberous subter- 

 ranean bodies called Truffles, which are highly prized as a table 

 delicacy by the inhabitants of these countries. 



Order 5. Helvellales, the saddle fungi. Fleshy fungi entirely 



*" Mycology and Plant Pathology" p. 147. 



