merulis lacrimans? serpula lacrymans?

[Guest guest]

Can anybody tell me what kind of mold this is? It's the English

translation of " la mérule " , the kind of wood-eating fungus I've found

in my house. Thanks!

[Guest guest]

> Can anybody tell me what kind of mold this is? It's the English

> translation of " la mérule " , the kind of wood-eating fungus I've

found

> in my house. Thanks!

Merulis lacrymans - Also known as the house fungus. Because the

fungi require moisture for growth, dry rot occurs most often in

places where the ventilation is poor or humidity is high or when the

wood has been improperly seasoned. It may be prevented by

application of creosote or other preservatives. The same kind of

decay as produced by Poria incrassata is produced by the teardrop

fungus, Merulius lacrymans, which occasionally causes much damage to

structural timbers in the northern part of the United States and in

Canada. The two rots cannot be distinguished unless sporophores are

present. In Europe, where P. incrassata does not occur, M. lacrymans

is the " dry-rot fungus, " and is very important. A considerable

amount of what has been said about P. incrassata pertains also to M.

lacrymans, including the rhizomorph and its water-conducting

capacity. The specific name lacrymans, which means " weeping, " refers

to the characteristic the fungus shows in active growth under damp

conditions, when innumerable globules of water are seen. The

prodigality of nature is indicated by the estimate that 1 sq m of a

sporophore of M. lacrymans will produce over 50 million spores per

minute over a period of many days, and that other wood-decay fungi

have been found to be even more fruitful.

Serpula lacrymans - Common cause of extrinsic asthma (immediate-type

hypersensitivity: type I). Acute symptoms include edema and

bronchiospasms; chronic cases may develop pulmonary emphysema. Also

called dry rot fungus. Sensitive to high temperatures (over 25°C).

It has the ability to grow through masonry stone work. Strands of S.

lacrymans can transport moisture from damp areas that enables the

spreading of the fungus. Serpula lacrymans is especially common in

old buildings made of brick, mortar and timber, but the dry rot also

appear in modern buildings. The severity of the fungus is not only

its ability to attack timber, but it can grow for several meters (10

m) spreading from one timber location to another across or through

non-nutritional material. In addition, as the wood cellulose, the

food source for S. lacrymans is broken down, the carbon dioxide and

water which are formed as breakdown products further assist the

spread of S. lacrymans.