PENICILLIUM 



1025 



Genus Penicillium Link, 1809. 



The whole fruit -bearing hypha with its sterigmata and conidia 

 resembles a hair-pencil, hence the name of the genus {Pemcilltum= 

 hair-pencil). The conidiophore hypha shows verticillate branches, 

 which give rise to slender fusiform formations (sterigmata) abstrict- 

 ing chains of conidia. 



Penicillium crustaceum Linnaeus, 1763. 



Synonyms. — Mucor crusiaceus alhus Linnaeus, 1763; Monilia 

 digitata V^r soon; Penicillium glaucum Linnaeus, 1809; P. expansuw- 

 Linnaeus; P. crustaceum Fries, 1829. 



An extremely common saprophyte found on bread, cheese, fruits, 

 and various organic substances in a state of decomposition. The 

 conidia are spherical or slightly elliptical, of bronze colour, with 

 smooth surface; maximum diameter 4 fj,. This fungus grows well 

 at any temperature between 2° and 35° C, and is very resistant. 



Fig. 524. — AsPER- Fig. 525. — Sterig- Fig. 526. — Penicil- 

 GiLLUs Fructifi- matocystis Fruc- lium Fructifica- 



CATION. TIFICATION. TION. 



(After Brumpt.) 



It has been found by Maggiora and Gradenigo in two cases of 

 otitis media. Heinhorn has observed it in the vomiting of four 

 cases of acid dyspepsia together with Aspergillus herhariorum. 



Wertheim has observed that the intravenous inoculation of P. 

 crustaceum is pathogenic to rabbits, dogs, and lambs. 



Penicillium minimum Siebenmann, 1889. 



Conidia are roundish, smooth, of a brownish-black colour ; smaller 

 than in P. crustaceum, being 2*5 to 3 in diameter. Was found in 

 a case of acute otitis by Siebenmann. 



Penicillium montoyai Castellani, 1907. 

 Synonym. — P. pictor Neveu-Lemaire, 1908. 



Conidia roundish or slightly oval, smooth, 3 to 4^ in diameter. 

 Grows well on maltose agar and ordinary agar; cultures of dark 

 greyish colour. Discovered by Montoya in cases of pinta, of the 

 greyish- violet variety. Similar species, not yet well defined, are 

 found in other varieties of pinta. 



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