Wet rot - Donkioporia expansa

Habitat:

Found on hardwoods, particularly oak, although it may spread to adjacent softwoods. It is common on timbers where there has been persistent water leakage. It can cause more extensive damage to oak than any other fungus, and is often found at the ends of beams embedded in damp walls. Damage may be confined to the interior of the beam and may not be noticed until fruit-bodies appear. It is often associated with death watch beetle attack.

Damage characteristics:

Wood becomes bleached and is reduced to a lint-like consistency, leaving stringy white fibres. Decayed wood is easily crushed but does not crumble

Fungal characteristics:

Mycelium Yellow to red-brown thick felted growth, often shaped to the wood's contours. Exudes drops of yellowish-brown liquid.

Strands None

Fruit-body Thin, leathery, plate or bracket-shaped, or thick, hard and woody. Brown or buff coloured. Spore bearing surface is cinnamon-brown or fawn with numerous minute pores. Often several pore layers are present.