Mineralized stalks of the chryophyte Anthophysa vegetans (0. F. Muller) Stein were examined by electron microscopy, and the composition of the stalks was determined by energy dispersive x-ray microanalysis. Colonies grown i n water from a local lake (Dowdy Lake) had mineralized stalks that were colorless and composed mainly of spherules of calcium phosphate up to 0.7 pm i n diameter. The addition of 0.1 m M MnCl, to the culture medium resulted i n deeplj orange-brown stalks mineralized primarily with minute granules of a manganese compound. The addition of 0.1 m M FeCl, to the culture media resulted in light yellow stalks mineralized mainly with small granules of a n iron compound. The addition of 0.1 m M MgCl, or KCI resulted in stalks that were similar in appearance and copposition to the colonies grown in culture medium alone. These results show that the composition of the mineralized stalks of A. vegetans is dependent on the elements present i n the culture medium. This is also the first time that calcium phosphate has been reported as a mineralization product i n the chrysophytes.