Dry rot

Description

A fungus, usually Serpula lacrymans (formerly known as Merulius lacrymans), that attacks the cellulose portion of softwood. The dry rot fungus leaves behind the lignin, resulting in a brown color region that is brittle, weak, and powdery. Although originally thought to occur in the absence of moisture, dry rot fungus will only grow in wood that has a minimum of 20% moisture and grows best in wood kept in stagnant air with 30-40% moisture.

Synonyms and Related Terms

Serpula lacrymans (formerly known as Merulius lacrymans); brown rot; mérule (Fr.); podrião seca (Port.)

Resources and Citations

• Janice Carey and Colin Grant, "The Treatment of Dry Rot in Historic Buildings" Building Conservation Directory 1999: Link