Dry Rot Fungus

Serpula lacrymans

On dead wood, most often indoors. All year round.

Fruiting bodies large, spreading up to 50 cm across, 4 cm thick, weakly attached to the substrate, peeling off easily; young ones white, in old ones the centre turns brown while the margins stay white longer, but eventually they too turn brown. Hymenophore wrinkled, with large net-like folds, coarsely porous, yellowish-ochre, dark brown, violet-brown, usually with droplets of brown liquid. The most dangerous destroyer of wood in unventilated, enclosed premises, destroying floors, walls and windowsills, ruining houses and harming human health. It dislikes drought, sun, draughts and well-impregnated wood.