FUNGI 141 
compact, forming a felt-like mass, as may be seen some- 
times in connection with preserved fruits. The mycelium 
is in contact with its source of food-supply, which is 
called the substratum. 
From the prostrate mycelium numerous erect branches 
arise, each branch bearing at its tip a large globular cell 
Fre. 130.—Sexual reproduction of Mucor, showing tips of sexual branches in con- 
tact (A), the two gametangia cut off by partition walls (8), and the heavy- 
walled odspore (C); B and C are more or less diagrammatic as to cell contents. 
containing spores (Figs. 126, 127, 128). The globular cell, 
therefore, is a sporangium, and the erect branch is a sporo- 
phore (spore-bearer). The sporangium wall bursts (Fig. 
129), the light spores are scattered by the wind, and fall- 
