Serpula (fungus) cover the surface they are growing on (known as the substrate). The hymenophore, or spore-forming surface, generally has a wrinkled appearance. The species grow on, and digest, mainly coniferous wood, causing a process known as brown rot. One species, dry rot ("S. lacrymans"), is a highly destructive agent of houses. Damp structural timber is an ideal substrate for the germination of "Serpula" spores. The fungal hyphae penetrate the wood and release enzymes that break down structural polysaccharides such as cellulose. There may be no external indications that the fungus is present until the rot is far advanced and fruit bodies
Pulvinic acid Pulvinic acid Pulvinic acid is a natural chemical pigment found in some lichens. Dimers of pulvinic acid have been found in the fungi "Scleroderma citrinum" and "Chalciporus piperatus". Hydroxypulvinic acid pigments (pulvinic acid type family of pigments) have been found in "Boletus" (e.g. "Boletus erythropus"), "Boletinus", "Chalciporus", "Gyrodon", "Leccinum", "Pulveroboletus", "Suillus" (e.g. "Suillus luteus", "Suillus bovinus", and "Suillus grevillei"), "Paxillus" (e.g. "Paxillus involutus"), "Serpula" (e.g. "Serpula lacrymans"), "Xerocomus" (e.g. "Xerocomus chrysenteron"), "Hygrophoropsis" (e.g. "Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca"), "Retiboletus" (e.g. "Retiboletus nigerrimus"), "Pulveroboletus" (e.g. "Pulveroboletus auriflammeus"), and are generally characteristic of Boletales. Derivatives and similar pigments of this family include atromentic acid, xerocomic