INTRODUCTION 



threads. This network of fine threads is the body of 



a plant called chhata {Mucor) (fig. 2, m), which is 



perfectly undifferentiated, and thus belongs to the 



class Thallophyta. 



The higher plants 



with their body 



differentiated into 



roots, stems, and 



leaves, or only 



stems and leaves, 



are called by way 



of distinction CoR- 



MOPHYTA. It is 



with the Cormo- 



phyta mainly that 



we are concerned 



in this part of the 



book. 



If we look 

 round, we see that 

 while a large 

 number of familiar 

 plants are ter- 

 restrial, that is, 

 grow and live on 

 land, others are 

 either aquatic, 

 that is, have no 

 connection with 

 the ground, but 

 grow and live in water; or epiphytic, that is, grow 

 and live attached to other plants as props or supports; 

 or parasitic, that is, grow and live on other plants 

 or animals, not merely as props or supports, but also 

 derive their nourishment from them; or saprophytiGj 



Fig. 

 m, Mycelium. 



I. — Chhata {Mucor mucedo) 



c. Aerial hyphae bearing sporangia s 

 (highly magnified). 



