Cubical brown rot

Description:

A wood-decay fungus is a variety of fungus that digests moist wood, causing it to rot. Some species of wood-decay fungi attack dead wood, such as brown rot, and some are parasitic and colonize living trees. Fungi that not only grow on wood but actually cause it to decay, are called lignicolous fungi. Various lignicolous fungi consume wood in various ways. For example, some attack the carbohydrates in wood and some others decay lignin. Wood-decay fungi can be classified according to the type of decay that they cause. Brown-rot fungi break down hemicellulose and cellulose. Cellulose is broken down by hydrogen peroxide that is produced during the breakdown of hemicellulose. Because hydrogen peroxide is a small molecule, it can diffuse rapidly through the wood, leading to a decay that is not confined to the direct surroundings of the fungal hyphae. As a result of this type of decay, the wood shrinks, shows a brown discoloration, and cracks into roughly cubical pieces, hence the name brown rot or cubical brown rot. Brown rot in a dry, crumbly condition is sometimes incorrectly referred to as dry rot in general. The term brown rot replaced the general use of the term dry rot, as wood must be damp to decay, although it may become dry later. Dry rot is a generic name for certain species of brown rot fungus. Brown rot fungi are predominantly members of the Basidiomycota.

Habitat:

Many of the brown rot fungi produce bracket-shaped fruitbodies and grow on the trunks of dead hardwood or softwood trees. Some brown rot fungi may attack timber in buildings.

Notes:

Advanced stage of a decaying dead tree trunk (possibly beech) affected by brown rot. I can imagine this would make a good 3D puzzle as well. Spotted in National Park Veluwezoom, Holland.(sources:see reference)