CELLS IN LOWER PLANTS. 89 



In the lowest members of the Fungi — i.e., Schizomycetes, or 

 fission Fungi, as they are sometimes called — unicellular organisms 

 either rod-shaped (Bacilli), or in the form of small spheroidal 

 cells (cocci), are found, which may be joined together into 

 chains, or occur in the form of masses of varied shapes {strep- 

 tococci, staphylococci). Many of these forms are motile cells, such 

 as the Bacillus typhosus. Bacillus subtilis, Proteus vulgaris, etc. 

 Occasionally, as in the Streptothrix group, long branching filaments 

 are formed, composed of large numbers of rod-like cells {Actin- 

 omyces, Bacillus mycoides) ; but the life-histories and vital processes 

 of the Schizomycetes are, nowadays, considered to belong to the 

 domain of bacteriology rather than that of botany pure and 

 simple, and it is not here intended to give more than a brief 

 survey of the general characters of the group. 



In the higher Fungi, although, as was above stated, the chief 

 type of tissue met with is that composed of hyphal filaments, 

 there occur, nevertheless, variations in this tissue, more especially 

 in connection with the processes of reproduction ; thus, in the 

 propagation by spores, the ends of hyphal filaments are modified 

 so as to become divided up into large numbers of spores or 

 gouidia, (exogenous spore-formation), and in yet other instances 

 spores may be formed inside special organs, the asci (ascospores) 

 in the process of endogenous spore-formation. Xo tissues corre- 

 sponding to the vascular tissues of Higher Plants occur in Fungi, 

 and even the highest members are only to be distinguished by 

 the variety and form of their fructifications, the vegetative part 

 of the plant being nearly always small and insignificant, and 

 known as a mycelium. 



The cells composing the hyphal filaments possess protoplasm, 

 many nuclei, and cellsap, but no chlorophyll ever appears in 

 them; and in place of starch, oil-globtiles are found in the 

 •cell.* Moreover, the fungi are able to absorb, by means of their 

 mycelia, organic materials direct from the substratum on which 

 they grow, so that the processes of elaboration of nitrogenous 

 and carbohydrate material from salts and other raw material 

 supplied are not necessary in the members of this great group. 

 In those plants next above the Fungi — viz., the Bryophyta 

 {Hepaticm and Musci) — vascular tissues of a rudimentary type 



* Glycogen in Fungi seems also at times to take the place ot sugar or 

 starch in the higher plants. 



