CHAPTEE XXIV 



MICEOBES SCHIZOMYCETES AND SACCHAEOMYCETES 



The recognition of the Schizomycetes, or " splitting Fungi," 

 as an order, is of comparatively recent date, and the entire 

 study, notwithstanding all that has been done, is still in an 

 elementary condition. The very minute organisms of which 

 the group is composed have long been recognised, but even now 

 it is open to doubt whether they should be associated with 

 Algae or with Fungi, or outside of both. As part of the 

 Infusoria, Ehrenberg made the first attempt at their classifica- 

 tion in 1838. Then they were transferred, almost bodily, to 

 Algae, in 1872, whilst, more recently, they have been held to 

 be most closely related to Fungi, and united to Fungi by 

 Saccardo in 1889. It is of but small import whether they 

 should, technically, be regarded as Fungi or only as allies : they 

 evidently are closely related, and, notwithstanding their minute 

 size, are of too great importance to be practically ignored. They 

 are defined as " unicellular plants, which multiply by repeated 

 subdivision, in one, two, or three dimensions of space, and also 

 frequently reproduce themselves by spores, which are formed 

 endogenously." Mr. Grove points out that they differ from 

 Algae : " On account of their want of chlorophyll they are 

 reduced to live on ready-organised substances, as are Fungi 

 generally. The Schizomycetes, therefore, produce in their sub- 

 stratum, or in the fluid which they inhabit, very considerable 

 and striking decompositions. They perish in pure water con- 

 taining no decomposable substance. They grow, therefore, 

 exclusively in organic liquids, or in water, or on damp spots, 

 where there is an abundance of organised matter." x 



1 Synopsis of the Bacteria and Yeast Fungi, by W. B. Grove, B.A., London; 



1884. 



