Is this dry rot?

[adamr]

Hi All,

Is this piccy enough to tell if it's the "tendrils" of dry rot? It's between an external stone wall and cement plaster (being removed). There's no evident wood near it, but I guess maybe there could be something inside the wall. The wall suffered from rising damp at that location.

If it is, should I worry at all about it? The nearest bit of wood is a windowsill about a meter away.

Thanks,
Adam

 

[Matt Green]

No, it's more likely a plant root. The branching structure doesn't look right for a fungus.

Fungal mycelia bifurcate, i.e.: split into two parts when they branch. Plant roots branch by producing smaller roots from a central root.

Fungus:

\/ /
\ /
\/

Plant:


_____/__________/__
\

 

[stuart45]

Hard to be sure from a photo, but the white looks to me like it could be salts coming out of the stone caused by moisture bringing them out.

 

[MdB]

If you don't already know Adam, Matt is an expert on things that munch your house.

(though I must say I am just a little bit disappointed that he hasn't identified which plant these roots belong to... :wink: )

 

[adamr]

Thanks, that's reassuring

And, yes I'm pretty confident they're hydroscopic salts.

Cheers,
Adam