Stats

Lifespan

Perennial

Size

Small

Diet

Decomposer

Biome

Tropical rainforest

Range

North America

Movement

Sessile

Breeding

Spores

Defense

Toxins

Status

Uncommon

About

The White Blanket is a crust-like fungus that grows on the bark of tropical trees. It captures moisture from the air to grow tiny, needle-like crystals on its surface.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   spore

   A microscopic spore drifts on air or water and germinates where moisture and substrate meet.
2. 2.
   mycelium

   A thread-like mycelium spreads through the substrate, breaking it down into nutrients.
3. 3.
   fruiting body

   A mature fruiting body emerges to release the next generation of spores.

Learn more

• View on iNaturalist →

Taxonomy

Kingdom

Fungi

Phylum

Ascomycota

Class

Arthoniomycetes

Order

Arthoniales

Family

Arthoniaceae

Genus

Cryptothecia

Species

Cryptothecia striata