Precise and statistical studies of morphology, physiology and taxonomy on absidia.

The former paper (Report 1) described the sporangial head as a whole. In this study (Report 2) each component was examined separately: sporangium proper, apophysis, and columella.<br>The median (Me) of the height of the sporangium proper was 16.43μm. Its form was mostly globose or nearly globose in 61.5%.<br>The median (Me) of the breadth of the apophysis was 13.30μm and that of the height, 11.93μm. The apophysis was nearly cone-shaped in 38%, and trumpet shaped in 37%, but almost never bell-shaped.<br>The median (Me) of the height of the columella was 9.65μm and that of its breadth, 14.02μm. The form of the columella was variable: spherical, half-moon, low hill, cone, dome, etc.<br>At the top of the columella there were often projections, small and hyaline. The frequency of columella with projections varied: Ab. regenerii had projections in 92%, but Ab. parricida had none.<br>The columella was often depressed into the apophysis slightly, moderately or deeply by the pressure of sporangiospores grown in the sporangium proper. Rarely the columella was depressed not only downwards but also sidewards to produce an umbrella-like structure, but this change was found in only 24 (0.59%) of the 4012 columellas examined.<br>In the former report the author declared a grave matter that severely opposes the ideas maintained for long years till now. Form or shape of sporangial heads of Absidia do not conform with that of real fruits of pyrus communis in nature (Fig. 2-1 of Report 1) but over half (59.97%) of sporangial heads were pseudopyriform: on globose or near globose body was fixed long or short neck like a cone or concave funnel or trum pet. Consisting only of globose simple body without neck or neck-like thing are called “never pyriform”. The word “sporangium” has been used in two meanings (smaller and broader). The one (smaller) was only a sac filled with sporangiospores and the other (broader) a whole thing produced and attached at the top of sponrangiophore.<br>The new names proposed here by the author, for the broader one were in Latin “sg. Capitulum sporangialis pl. Capitula sporangiales.”, and in English “sg. sporngial head, pl. sporangial heads” (L.). When only “sporangium” (E.), (D. Deutsch) or “sporange” (F.) is heard and read, we are often puzzled whether it is in narrow sense (the sac only) or in broader sense including also apophysis and columella. Therefore when only the sac is meant, “proper” should be added. But when all three components are meant as a whole, “proper” should not be added. but “head” has to be added. In this 2nd report, each of three components was one after another studied and described.