Abstract: | Scanning electron microscopy of sporulating cultures of Physarum polycephalum shows in detail the fine structure of the stalk, peridium, capillitia and spores. The peridium has a wrinkled structure and funnel-like cavities (5-10 μ in diameter) which are the capillitia openings. The capillitia are a network of tubes with differing diameters. The capillitia are covered with fine granules, and contain various amounts of bead-like granules of up to 2 μ in diameter. The spherical spores (10 μ in diameter) are covered with fine granules similar to those covering the capillitia. |