Brittle cinder fungus

Wood decay pathogens are often classified by the components of the woody tissues they degrade. Brown rots primarily degrade cellulose, while white rots primarily degrade lignin. A third category, the soft rot fungi, cause decay of both cellulose and lignin. The loss of both of these tissues can lead to rapid and significant loss of structural stability. One of the most common soft rot pathogens is brittle cinder fungus (Kretzschmaria deusta).