Penicillium fruiting bodies, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). Penicillium sp. is a type of fungus known as a mould. Fungal fruiting bodies are known as conidia. These tuft-like clusters at the tips of filaments (hyphae) contain rounded spores strung together in chains. Once ripe, each spore can germinate into a new fungus. The mould grows as a mycelium of hyphal threads, which develop the fruiting bodies seen here. Species of penicillium are the source of the antibiotic penicillin. They are also used in the fermentation of camembert cheese. Magnification: x250 at 6x7cm size.