MOULDS 247 



pencil, and are segmented at their ends into rows of fine 

 globular spores or conidia. The mould grows well on 

 bread pap in the form of a fur which is white at first, but 

 afterwards becomes of a fine green colour. The fungus 

 grows on gelatine plates first in the form of fine threads 

 diverging from a point, and not giving rise to sharply 

 defined colonies, but radiating out over a considerable extent 

 of surface. The spore-bearing hyphae which rise above the 

 level of the gelatine are put in motion by air currents, and 

 when this occurs the shedding of the spores can be readily 

 observed. The earliest formation of spores takes place in 

 the centre of the colonies, and is indicated by a green 

 colour. The gelatine is liquefied. 



Brown Mould. — The fur formed by the ' brown ' mould is 

 brownish-yellow in colour, and is distinguished from 

 Penicillium glaucum, which it otherwise resembles, by its 

 closely-felted mycelium, the hyphae being scanty, ramified, 

 and segmented. It grows on gelatine, which quickly 

 becomes liquefied. According to Trelease, this mould is 

 identical with an alga, the Cladothrix dichotoma, which is 

 frequently found in dirty water. 



Oidium Lactis. — This mould grows as a white fur, and is 



Fig. 28. — Oidium Lactis. 



