Spore Towers

Closely related to the chemeba genus the spore towers are distinguished by the fact that, under certain species specific conditions, they form (relatively) large aggregations called spore towers. An individual cell [1] tends to be amorphous and is either facultatively (most species) or obligately (mostly cave species) lithotrophic. The aggregations usually organize them selves into tower shapes [2] or slug shapes [3]. Towers form a spore ball at the tip while slugs usually have multiple pairs of spore balls. Slugs are some what mobile, motion of the whole being produced by individual cells crawling over each other. Spore balls are formed from groups of cells which enter into conjugation with each other and then rapidly divide into numerous tiny spores. The spores are dispersed by wind, water, or fauna and the cycle begins again.