492 LIFP>HIST()RIES 



178. The fission fungi (Class Schizomycetesj. Fungi, 

 broadly defined, are thallus- plants without chlorophyll. In 

 their structure and life-histories they present often note- 

 worthy parallels to what we have already seen in typical 

 algir. Thus, closely similar to the Cyanophyce;r are the 

 Fission Fungi, otherwise known as Bacteria. A tj^pical 





li til i 



Fia. 322. — H.ay ha('illu.s {Bacillus siihtilis, Rod-germ Family', Bacteriacexr). 

 A, rod-like plants embedded in the film-like gelatinous mass which they 

 produce, ^?^. B, plants swimming freely by means of slender lash-like 

 projections, i^,"--. C, plants in the thread condition forming restini^ 

 spores, ^5-. (Strasburger.) — These plants cause putrefaction in yarious 

 liquids such as water in which hay has been soaked. 



example is the "hay bacillus" fFig. .322) so-called because 

 it thrives in an infusion of hay. About twenty-four hours 

 after such an infusion is made, the liquid gives off an offensive 

 odor and becomes turloid through the presence of myriads of 

 organisms which under a veiy high power of the microscope 

 appear as short, colorless rods (B). These are seen to be in 

 rapid motion, but it is only by special staining and very 

 great magnification that the exceedingly delicate lash-like 

 projections which cause the movement can be discerned. 

 The al)ility of these plants to feed upon the organic substances 

 dissolved in the water about them, renders it unnecessary 

 for them to manufacture food for themselves by the aid of 

 sunlight out of inorganic materials; hence like all fungi they 

 can dispense with chlorophyll, and grow as well, often better, 

 in the dark than in the light. A plant which feeds upon dead 



