264 
PHARMACEUTICAL BOTANY 
conidia 2.5 to 3^ in diameter. Harshberger 1 cites the presence of 
perithecia in this organism which are nut-brown, globular, 250 to 
350JU in diameter, and inclose oval thin-skinned asci with eight red 
lenticular ascospores each of which has a diameter of 4 to 5//. 
Aspergillus niger {Sterigmatocystis niger) develops dark brown 
mycelial masses in which are to be noted slender conidiophores bear¬ 
ing handle-shaped, branched sterigmata that cut off from their tips 
chains of rounded black-brown conidia 3.5 to 5/z in diameter. This 
fungus has been found to produce suppurative inflammation of the 
Fig. 137.—The morel, Morchellajesculenta. (Gager, from photo by W. A. Murrill.) 
external and middle portions of the human ear. It is also a cause of 
cork disease, so often imparting a disagreeable taste to bottled 
beverages. 
Order 4.— Tuberales, the truffles. Fungi whose septate mycelium 
is often connected with the roots of trees forming the structure 
known as mycorrhiza. Several species of the genus Tuber growing 
in woods of France, Germany and Italy produce tuberous subter¬ 
ranean bodies called Truffles, which are highly prized as a table 
delicacy by the inhabitants of these countries. 
Order 5.— Helvellales, the saddle fungi. Fleshy fungi entirely 
x “ Mycology and Plant Pathology” p. 147. 
