THALLOPIIYTES : FUNGI 



265 



have been so modified by their parasitic and saprophytic 

 habits that they have lost all likeness to the Algae, and 

 their connection with them is very obscure. 



178. The plant body, — Discarding certain problematical 

 forms, to be mentioned later, the bodies of all true Fungi 

 are organized upon a uniform general plan, to which they 

 can all be referred (Fig. 232). A set of colorless branching 



s^ 



Fig. 232. A diagrammatic representation of Mucor, showing the profusely branching 

 mycelium, and three vertical hyphae (sporophores), sporangia forming on b and c. 

 — After Zopf. 



filaments, either isolated or interwoven, forms the main 

 working body, and is called the mycelium. The interweav- 

 ing may be very loose, the mycelium looking like a delicate 

 cobweb ; or it may be close and compact, forming a f eltdike 

 mass, as may often be seen in connection with preserved 

 fruits. The individual threads are called hyphw (singular, 

 hyplia) or hyphal threads. The mycelium is in contact with 

 its source of food supply, 'which is called the substratum. 



