Table of differences bewteen Dry Rot and the most common Wet Rots
| Common Name | Latin Name | Effect on Wood | Hyphae on wood Surface | Other surface growths | Fruiting Bodies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Rot | Serpula Lacrymans | Rotted wood Shrinks and splits into large IRREGULAR cubical pieces by deep cross cracking. Generally occurs in damp, not wet, situations. Spore dust light rust colour, later reddish brown, may be first indication | Strands grey, sometimes as thick as lead pencil, becoming brittle when dried | In damp dark places, soft white cushions or silky tassels; in drier places thick silver grey sheets or skins usually showing patches of lemon yellow and tinges of lilac | Fleshy, soft, but rather tough; shaped like pancakes or brackets. Spore-bearing surface ochre to red-brown with wide pore labyrinthine ridges and furrows. Margin white. |
| Wet Rot, Cellar fungus | Coniophora Pueana | Causes darkening. Longitudinal cracking often predominates. Cross cracks that form are often covered by a thin surface skin of relatively sound wood. Usually found in very damp situations especially cellars, solid floors and roofs. | Strands slender, Usually thread-like at first yellowish, soon becoming deep brown or nearly black. Often there are little or no visible growths of fungus on the surface of the wood. Sometimes there are fan-like growths over walls in very damp conditions | Occasionally very thin skin-like growths. Yellowish or dark brown (or greyish white under impervious floor coverings) | Rarely found in buildings. Sheet-like in shape. Spore-bearing surface olive brown, bearing spores on small rounded lumps or pimples. |
| Wet Rot, Mine Fungus | Poria Vailantii (and other related species of poria) | Rot similar but less widespread than that produced by Serpula. Various species of Poria occur in houses, all requiring rather more moisture than Serpula | Strands white or whitish seldom thicker than stout twine, remaining flexible when dried. | White or cream sheets of fern-like growths. Occasional local brown coloration from contact with iron. | Shaped like sheets or plates, white in colour. Spore-bearing surface, white, showing numerous minute pores. |