The soil myxobacterium, Myxococcus fulvus, will produce clavate columns of slime and cells in certain static liquid cultures. The cells protrude from the thicker end of the column like pins in a pincushion. The column\u27s distribution is in an even array. An hypothesis is suggested for the origin of these formations. The columns are not fruiting bodies. Column formation in other fruiting myxobacteria suggests that it is not a unique feature. Only one other fruiting myxobacterium which produced columns has been reported, and that more than two decades ago
