Dry rot’s wild cousin

I’ve owned a house which had dry rot. It’s not something I’d wish on anyone. Having the fungus, Serpula lacrymans, creeping through your house’s timbers is enough to make anyone cry; which is why it’s called Serpula, ‘creeping like a snake’ and lacrymans ‘making tears’.

Dry Rot has a wild cousin, Serpula himantiodes, which grows outside and is a serious pathogen of wood cut by lumber suppliers.

Here in Dunster there are rings of tree trunks on the grass:

Underneath them is a complex web of fungus growing in the dark humid conditions:

It covers the underside:

Looking at the complex folds close-up is an experience:

What an amazing pattern.