MOULDS. 139 



state that one of tlie six families into wMcli fungi 

 are divided for scientific purposes is called Hypho- 

 TnyceteSy a name compounded of two Greek words 

 signifying ^^ thread^^ and ^^ mould/^ or ^^ fungus/^ 

 and is applied to this group because the thread- 

 like filaments of which they are largely composed 

 are the most prominent feature. In this family 

 there are again a number of smaller groups called 

 orders^ having an equal value to the natural orders 

 of flowering plants ; and one of these orders_, called 

 Mucedines, has the fertile threads perfectly distinct 

 from the mycelium or spawn. These threads are 

 sometimes simple and sometimes branched; they 

 may be articulated or without articulations or septa^ 

 short or long_, erect or creeping^ hyaline or whitish^ 

 mostly free from colour^ and are not coated with 

 a distinct membrane. The spores are generally 

 simple^ sometimes solitary^ at others in pairs_, or 

 strung together like beads for a necklace. Amongst 

 all this variety of arrangement there is order_, for 

 these are but features_, or partly the features^ of the 

 different genera of which the Miiccdiries are com- 

 posed. One of the genera is termed Peronospora, 

 and to this the parasitic fungus of the potato^ and 

 some others to which we shall have occasion to 

 refer^ belong. In this genus the threads are 

 generally branched^, but without articulations. The 

 spores^ or seed-like bodies^ are of two kinds ; one 

 kind is borne on the tips of the branches ; and the 

 other kind^ which is larger and globose^ is borne 



