Synonyms: Discosphaera deusta, Hypoxylon deustum, Hypoxylon magnosporum, Hypoxylon ustulatum, Nemania deusta, Sphaeria albodeusta, Sphaeria deusta, Sphaeria maxima, Sphaeria versipelle, Sphaeria versipellis, Stromatosphaeria deusta, Ustulina deusta, Ustulina maxima, Ustulina vulgaris.
Common name: brittle cinder.
Extract from Wikipedia article: Kretzschmaria deusta, commonly known as brittle cinder, is a fungus and plant pathogen found in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It is common on a wide range of broadleaved trees including beech (Fagus), oak (Quercus), lime (Tilia), Horse Chestnut and maple (Acer). It also causes serious damage in the base of rubber, tea, coffee and palms. It causes a soft rot, initially and preferentially degrading cellulose and ultimately breaking down both cellulose and lignin, and colonises the lower stem and/or roots of living trees through injuries or by root contact with infected trees. It can result in sudden breakage in otherwise apparently healthy trees. The fungus continues to decay wood after the host tree has died, making K. deusta a facultative parasite. The resulting brittle fracture can exhibit a ceramic-like fracture surface. Black zone lines can often be seen in cross-sections of wood infected with K. deusta.
Czech: Dřevomor kořenový, Dutch: Korsthoutskoolzwam, Estonian: Harilik lamesüsik, German: Brandkrustenpilz, Polish: Zgliszczak pospolity, Swedish: Stubbdyna.
Brittle cinder fungus (Kretzschmaria deusta) near Raccoon Run Trail in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, May 13, 2018
Raccoon Run, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Brittle cinder fungus (Kretzschmaria deusta) on a low stump in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, May 13, 2018Raccoon Run, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Brittle cinder fungus (Kretzschmaria deusta) in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, May 13, 2018Raccoon Run, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Brittle cinder fungus (Kretzschmaria deusta) at the base of yaupon holly bush in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, July 9, 2018Iron Bridge Trail, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Close up of brittle cinder fungus (Kretzschmaria deusta) at the base of yaupon holly bush in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, July 9, 2018Iron Bridge Trail, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Brittle cinder fungus (Kretzschmaria deusta) on a rotting stump on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, May 23, 2020Little Lake Creek Loop Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Brittle cinder fungus (Kretzschmaria deusta) at the base of a stump on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, May 23, 2020Little Lake Creek Loop Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Brittle cinder fungus (Kretzschmaria deusta) at the base of a large magnolia(?) tree in Big Creek Scenic Area of Sam Houston National Forest. Shepherd, Texas, May 30, 2020Lone Star Hiking Trail, Shepherd, TX 77371, USA
Brittle cinder fungus (Kretzschmaria deusta) in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, June 2, 2020Raccoon Run, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Brittle cinder fungus (Kretzschmaria deusta) at the base of an oak tree in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, June 19, 2020
Crust fungus Kretzschmaria deusta at the base of a large beech near the creek in Big Creek Scenic Area of Sam Houston National Forest. Shepherd, Texas, March 20, 2021Lone Star Hiking Trail, Coldspring, TX 77331, USA
Crust fungus Kretzschmaria deusta with water droplets in Big Creek Scenic Area of Sam Houston National Forest. Shepherd, Texas, March 20, 2021Lone Star Hiking Trail, Shepherd, TX 77371, USA
Brittle cinder fungus (Kretzschmaria deusta) at the base of a hackberry tree in a juniper forest in Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. Washington, Texas, June 6, 2021Old Washington Town Site Loop Trail, Washington, TX 77880, USA
Texture of brittle cinder fungus (Kretzschmaria deusta) at the base of a hackberry tree in Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. Washington, Texas, June 6, 2021Old Washington Town Site Loop Trail, Washington, TX 77880, USA
Close-up of brittle cinder fungus (Kretzschmaria deusta) at the base of a hackberry tree in Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. Washington, Texas, June 6, 2021Old Washington Town Site Loop Trail, Washington, TX 77880, USA
Mature fungus Brittle cinder (Kretzschmaria deusta) at the base of a dry hackberry tree in Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. Washington, Texas, January 30, 2022Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site, Farm-to-Market Road 1155, Washington, Washington County, Texas, 77880, United States
Conidia of brittle cinder fungus (Kretzschmaria deusta) from large fallen hickory (no pictures of the fungus were taken) collected in Sam Houston National Forest. Texas, September 3, 2022
Conidia of a fungus Brittle cinder (Kretzschmaria deusta) collected in Pole Creek area of Sam Houston National Forest near Montgomery a day before. Texas, September 4, 2022
Spore size 5.7 - 6.5 × 2.3 - 2.5 µm, length to width ratio Q = 2.4 - 2.79.Mushroom Observer and Facebook for learning names of local mushrooms.
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