582 Dale. — Observations on Gymnoascaceae. 
within the spherical asci. The hyphae do not anastomose, 
although they branch considerably. 
The ascospores germinate by putting out one or two germ- 
tubes, which soon branch and form conidia by budding 
(Figs. 34-36). The end of a branch swells into an almost 
spherical knob, which is a conidium (Fig. 34). Immediately 
below it other conidia grow out. Branches, usually very short, 
and either spherical or oblong, arise, chiefly at the septa, but 
also at other points, and bud out at the top into conidia, 
which are formed in rapid succession (Figs. 34 and 35). These 
branches may be thrown off, and then frequently begin a yeast- 
like Budding. The conidial form of this species resembles 
those of some of the higher Ascomycetes, e. g. Nummularia , 
Xylaria polymorpha y & c., as figured by Brefeld 1 . The conidia 
germinate at once, but their behaviour varies under different 
conditions. If many conidia are sown in a small hanging 
drop they begin to bud at once, and the buds fall off as they 
do in a yeast (Fig. 37). In this connexion it may be noted 
that Klocker 2 states that yeast formation does not occur in 
the Gymnoascaceae, and draws conclusions therefrom in dis- 
cussing the affinities of the Gymnoascaceae. 
If a few conidia are sown in a drop a small mycelium is 
formed (Fig. 36). Similar differences occur in streak-cultures 
of conidia. If the spores be grown on 2 per cent, beer- 
wort agar scarcely any mycelium is formed, and the culture 
soon consists of nothing but a dense white powdery mass of 
budding conidia (Fig. 38). But sometimes, apparently if the 
agar has become drier and more concentrated, a mycelium is 
first formed (Fig. 39), which, however, soon becomes smothered 
in the enormous quantities of conidia which it produces. On 
such a mycelium the conidia-bearing branches somewhat re- 
semble a Verticillium , since they are produced, one or more 
together, chiefly at the ‘ nodes 5 of the hyphae, i. e. where the 
cross-walls occur (Fig. 35). Van Tieghem 3 has described 
a similar verticillate form in G „ ruber , but Eidam 4 doubts the 
1 loc. cit. (2), PI. IX. 2 loc. cit. 
3 loc. cit. (1), p. 160. i loc. cit. (e), p. 164. 
