Wet Rot - Coniophora puteana

Alternative names
Cellar Fungus
Description

An annual resupinate corticoid, pale yellowy-buff to olivaceous brown with a whitish, rather fringed margin, often forming extensive patches and causing a brown rot.  The surface is finely felted.   The spores are brown and smooth. 

Similar Species

Most other coloured corticoids wth a smooth or warty surface have white spores.

Identification difficulty

microscopy

Recording advice

Photograph fertile surface; note host plant and substrate.  Microscopic examination from a specimen may be needed and we recommend that your record is verified by an expert before submission to NatureSpot

Habitat

Wet wood, logs and stumps.  Also on timber in buildings, sometimes causing serious damage. 

When to see it

All year round.

UK Status

Widespread and frequent in England and Wales.

VC55 Status

Status in Leicestershire and Rutland not known.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Wet Rot, Cellar Fungus
Species group:
fungus
Kingdom:
Fungi
Order:
Boletales
Family:
Coniophoraceae
Records on NatureSpot:
3
First record:
06/10/2019 (Lewis, Steven)
Last record:
03/01/2026 (Hunt, Graham)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.

In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.

Latest images

Latest records