Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of Clostridium phytofermentans, showing spore forming (with rounded cell tips) and vegetative cells. C. phytofermentans is a spore-forming bacterium that naturally occurs amongst decomposing plant and animal matter. C. phytofermentans is a soil bacterium that can utilize lignocellulose (a type of cellulose) to generate ethanol, thus making it a possible candidate for use in ethanol production. Cellulose is prominent in cell walls of higher plant life and thus is an important by product of agricultural and municipal waste. Microorganisms primarily carry out the decomposition of cellulose and this process is an important step in the cycling of carbon in the biosphere. Cellulolytic Clostridium species are very important in biotechnology due to their ability to convert cellulose biomass in to fuels such as ethanol. Clostridium species also play an important role in putrefaction. Magnification: x4,000 when shortest axis printed at 25 millimetres.