Mine Fungus Guide
Antrodia vaillantii
Appearance
- Mycelium: white, fern like.
- Hyphae strands remain flexible when dry.
- Sporophore: white irregular plate, varies in depth from 2-12mm.
- Spores: white (rarely seen in bulk).
Lifecycle
- Microscopic threads (known as hyphae) invade the cells of the wood to form a vegetative surface (or mycelium).
Habits
- This attacks timber with a higher moisture content than dry rot.
- The surface of the rotted wood splits into squares.
- Sometimes called the White Pore Fungus, this fungus can grow at temperatures up to 36 C, conditions which would bring the growth of dry rot and other fungi to a halt.
- Occurs regularly in mines in Great Britain, Continental Europe and many other parts of the world, hence its common name.
- It can be found in buildings where the timber has been exposed to very damp conditions.
