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VOLUME XXIV NUMBERI
JULY 1897
ROLAND THAXTER.
this " sporangial " theory in all respects in so far as concerns the
genera Syncephalis and Piptocephalis. The cylindrical sporan-
gia in these cases are said by him to be filled with protoplasm
containing many nuclei which becomes simultaneously divided
into as many portions as there are spores in each spore row;
these masses being separated by an intersporal zone of hyaline
protoplasm, as in the sporangia of typical mucors.
Other authors, again, are not inclined to accept this homol-
ogy, and A. Fischer, for example, in his well-known revision of
the Phycomycetes in Rabenhorst's Kryptogamenftora, inclines
to the opinion that, in the absence of any connecting form
between these two supposed types of sporangia, it is as reason-
able as well as more simple to assume that these so-called coni-
dia have had an exogenous origin independent of that which
has given rise to sporangia of the normal type, and are there-
fore not homologous. Having been personally inclined to
agree with the views expressed by Professor Fischer in this
connection, the writer was somewhat surprised to find, in exam-
ining the spore rows of. a species of Syncephalastrum that has
been kept in cultivation for several years in the laboratory, a
condition of things which, in so far as this genus is concerned,
not only confirms the theories of Van Tieghem just mentioned,
but affords at least an approach to the very connecting link
between the spherical and the cylindrical form, the absence of
which was pointed out by Fischer.
The species of Syncephalastrum, three of which have been
described, appear to be in general of tropical origin, since in all
cases in which they have been observed, with perhaps one
exception, the material on which they have been cultivated has
been brought from the warmer regions of the earth. In the
writer's laboratory substances from Africa, China, Ceylon, and
Java have repeatedly yielded the same species, which, although
very variable in cultivation in regard to its branching and to the
number of spores in each spore-row, cannot be separated from
S. racemosum Cohn. It grows and fruits luxuriantly on agar,
and is sharply distinguished from other members of the Cephal-
4 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [JULY
is formed. While these changes are taking place the tip of the
sporangial hypha undergoes a somewhat similar modification. A
cap appears within it (fig. 39) which is at first composed of non-
stainable material like that of the intermediary zones, but which,
like the latter, soon shows a distinction between a stainable and
non-stainable portion (fig. lo). This terminal cap eventually
shares a fate similar to that of the intermediary zones, becoming
deliquescent and leaving the terminal spore of the row evenly
oblong like the rest.
Having had abundant material of this species growing in a
fresh condition it was possible to verify many times the course of
development just described, the correctness of which was further
substantiated by the examination of a second species subsequently
described as S. pycnosperma. The sporangial hyphoe of this species
are far larger than those of the form last described, although the
intermediary zones are relatively narrower. The process by which
the latter arise is exactly similar to that of the African form,
except that the stainable portion of the zone is proportionately
less well developed, forming finally a thin "separation disk"
(fig. 36 b) which, as the spore matures, loses its power of absorb-
ing stain and is converted into a refractive oily substance. That
portion of the zone, moreover, which was at the outset unstain-
able persists as the spore matures, being converted into a thick
wall firmly united to that of the spore and barely distinguishable
from it (fig. 38a, in which this distinction is much exaggerated),
and it is the persistence of this area (a) which gives to the ripe
spores their peculiar form (figs. 31, 37, 38). The same differ-
ences may be noted in the phenomena which occur at the apex
of the sporangial filaments, the process being even more clearly
marked than in the species last described. The portion of the fila-
ment separated above the terminal spore is here so large that it
has the appearance of a definite small cell; and as the spore
matures it passes through the same changes which have just
been described as characteristic of the separation zones. The
portion which is at first stainable becomes converted into oily
material, and disappears together with the portion of the wall of
8 BOTAXICAL GAZETTE [JULY
This striking species has been met with but twice, growing not very
abundantly on rather old cultures. Its peculiar spores and secondary sporo-
phores, which have already been described in detail, serve to distinguish it
at once from all other known species.
FIG. 2I. Two similar conjugating hyphe, the inner not indicated by
dotted lines,
FIG. 2Ia. Mature zygospore seen in optical section, its connection with
the gamete (x) still attached. J. Oc. 2.
22
20 16~~~~~~~O1Z
l?0C!3fO
THAXT'ER on ZYGOMYCETES.
BOTANICAL GAZETTE, xXXIV. PLATE II.
23~i,
THAXTER on ZYGOMYCETES.~~~~Af
I897] ZYGOMYCETES, SYNCEPHALASTRUM AND SYNCEPHALIS I5
the indurated portion of the zone later forming part of the spore wall. --6
Oc. 4.
FIG. 36. More mature condition of the sporangial filaments; b, the sepa-
ration disk, J. OC. 2.
FIG. 37. Mature sporangial filaments, the spores beginning to separate.
J. 0C. 2.
FIG. 38. Mature terminal spore showing persistent portion of intermedi-
ary zone (a, a). The spore wall more definitely distinguished than in
nature. 16 Oc. 4.
Syncejihalis, n. sp.
FIGS. 39-41. Successive stages in the formation of the intermediary
zones in young sporangial filaments, showing gradual constriction and sep-
aration of the-contents into parts corresponding to the spores. -A6 Oc. 4.
FIG. 42. Terminal portion of sporangial hypha. The spores mature,
separated by the intermediary zones, indicated in part by dotted lines, begin-
ning to become mucilaginous. - O. oc. 4.