Stats

Lifespan

Perennial

Size

Small

Diet

Decomposer

Biome

Temperate forest

Range

North America

Movement

Sessile

Breeding

Spores

Defense

Armor

Status

Common

About

This fungus grows as hard, black lumps on the branches of cherry and plum trees. It secretes enzymes to digest wood, eventually forming a hollow shell that houses insects.

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

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Taxonomy

Kingdom

Fungi

Phylum

Ascomycota

Class

Dothideomycetes

Order

Venturiales

Family

Venturiaceae

Genus

Apiosporina

Species

Apiosporina morbosa