TIIALLOPIIYTES: FU^'GI 



269 



Erect sporophores arise froin it in abundance, and at 

 the top of each sporophore a globular sporangium is formed, 

 within which are numerous small asexual spores (Figs. 235, 



Fig. 2.34. Diagram sliowini,' myceliinn and eporn])lior(...s of a common ^[iiror. — 



JIOOEB. 



3.30). The sporangium wall bursts (Fig. 337), the light spores 

 are scattered by the wind, and, falling upon a suitable sub- 

 stratum, germinate and 



form new mycelia. It is 

 evident that these asex- 

 ual spores are not zoo- 

 spores, for there is no 

 water medium and swim- 

 ming is impossible. This 

 method of transfer being 

 impossible, the spores are 

 scattered by currents of 

 air, and must be corre- 

 spondingly light and pow- 

 dery. They are usually 

 spoken of simply as 

 " spores,"' without any 

 prefix. 



Fig. 2.3.">. Formini; sijorani^ia of Mucor, show- 

 ing tlie swollen tip of tlie sporopliore (,-1), 

 and a later stage (B), in which a wall is 

 formed scparatiiiL' the sporanginni from 

 the rest of the body.— ^loOKf:. 



