When these fungus cells are observed under polarized light "Malteser cruces" are seen, i.e. a birefringency of some cells is noted. This occurs when the tissue is not completely desparaffinized before the coloration is done. Therefore this phenomenon of birefringency is due to a rest of paraffin and is not a characteristic of fungus cells. See also a lobomycosis with birefrigent fungus cells.