Serpula (fungus)
Wilder dry rot ( Serpula himantioides )
The house sponges ( Serpula ) is a fungal genus in the family Braunsporrindenpilzverwandten; Despite its flat, the substrate lying fruit bodies they belong to the order Dickröhrlingsartigen ( Boletales ).
The type species is Merulius destruens.
Features
The house sponges form resupinate ( the substrate adjacent ) to effuso reflexes ( at the edges protruding from the substrate ) fleshy to waxy fruit bodies whose surface is tuberculate - wrinkled in some species also stubbly or irregular porous. The double-walled spores are spherical to ellipsoid, they are yellowish to brownish.
Ecology
The house sponges are saprobiontische wood dwellers that produce an intense brown rot in the infested wood.
Species
The genus contains 15 species worldwide, of which two occur in Europe:
Importance
Particularly dry rot is a significant and formidable wood pest.