182 
grow rapidly for a long time. On account of the passage of the con¬ 
tents of the spore into the germ tube the former becomes much more 
transparent ; its cells also swell up, but it shows no farther changes. 
The germ tube soon becomes divided up into short cells at its base. 
When the nutritive materials in the spore are used up the growth at the 
endceases. The entire germ tube then divides up into roundish, much 
swollen cells, which produce gonidia-like buds. 
The results are different when the sowings are made on gelatine 
which is mixed with a plum decoctiou, grape juice, or meat extract. 
The first phenomena of growth are the same. But the terminal growth 
of the germ tubes does not cease, and they consequently spread them¬ 
selves over a relatively large area in a very short time. Their cells are 
therefore not short and thick but elongated, at first at least. In this 
case spores are not cut off. 
The ascospore itself undergoes a considerable transformation. It 
swells up at first and becomes more transparent as happens when it is 
sown in water (Figs. 14-10). As the size increases new transverse septa 
and soou after longitudinal septa make their appearance. These septa 
become continually more numerous aud consequently the whole spore 
iucreases in circumference; they appear in the greatest numbers in the 
central cells of the spore, while the ends change very little for some 
time. The primary cells may be visible for some time on account of 
the constrictions at the septa. In the manner described the spore 
is transformed into a large body easily visible to the naked eye and 
composed of a considerable number of very small cells, from which the 
germ tubes, which in the meantime have become large strong hyphae, 
now project in different places. About six days after sowing it begins 
to turn brown and finally becomes so dark colored that further obser¬ 
vations of special development are rendered impossible. It can only be 
seen that the cells composing the interior separate, leaving a cavity. 
After some time, during which the growth of the body has ceased, go- 
nidia began to emerge from the opening in the apex. We have there¬ 
fore a pycuidium situated in the center of a mycelium. A special pore 
which may be recoguized by some especially large clear cells, is now 
started. 
The formation of this pycuidium (it may be called a sporopycnidium 
in order to distinguish it from the others) does not occur when the 
spores are sown in distilled water; the germ tubes must therefore first 
grow at the expense of the spore and then take up nourishment from 
the substratum and carry it to the spore, in order to supply the con¬ 
sumption and furnish a surplus which makes it possible for it to attain 
such dimensions and pass through such transformations. 
The sporopycnidium is a very interesting phenomenon for two 
reasons. In the first place it is known that by absorbing nutriment, a 
fungous spore may increase in dimensions and that its cells may divide 
lie Bary (Morpliol. u. Biol. d. Pilze, 1884, p. 123.) cites the Mucorini and 
