HYPHAE 
3 
it is still claimed to be by a few biologists, it has yet to be 
demonstrated in the fungal kingdom. A germinating spore 
sends out a minute tube, the germ-tube, simple at first, but 
which ultimately becomes complex by the formation of 
lateral branches. The more complex structure is known 
as hypha. In some of the lower algal-like fungi (Phyco- 
mycetes) the hyphae consist of one continuous simple tube, 
but with the majority of fungi hyphae are composed of 
strings of cells which arise from the continual formation of 
cross-divisions or septa concurrently with the prolongation 
of the hypha. In septate hyphae coalescence of two distinct 
kinds is not infrequently observed. In the 
first, hyphae not at all close together, but 
growing parallel to one another, form 
what is known as “ H ” connections. 
From one hypha a lateral branch is thrown 
out, which fuses with the parallel hypha 
at the point of contact (Fig. i, B). The 
second kind is known as clamp connections A clal J^A t io„ s i„ 
(Fig. i, A). Contiguous cells of a hypha 
become connected by a tube which grows tions in 7 h yp ha f of My- 
J # ^ cena galenculata . 
out of one and passes into the other, 
absorbing the cell wall at the point of contact. These con¬ 
nections are invariably arranged in a spiral manner round 
the tube from right to left. 
The hyphas are the vegetative part of a fungus. In the 
free state they are collectively spoken of as mycelium or 
spawn. 
The mycelium may consist only of a few strands, or may 
be abundant, as in many parasitic fungi which attack trees, 
hollowing out their trunks and making them useless for 
timber. In the majority of agarics the mycelium is probably 
perennial, producing a crop year by year until the matrix 
has been completely impoverished of the constituents 
necessary for its existence. 
