Common bread mould. Scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of common bread mould (Rhizopus stolonifer). The filament-like hyphae which form the main body, or mycelium, of the fungus are coated in spores (sporangiospores). A spore-producing sporangium can be seen at lower left. Any spores that land on a favourable medium germinate, producing a network of hyphae which absorb food for growth and spore production. Rhizopus sp. are generally saprophytic, feeding on decaying animal and plant matter. However they can also be parasitic, feeding on living plants, animals and even humans, where they cause the disease mucormycosis. Magnification: x1300 at 7x9 inch size.