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SUMMARY
The well known decay of bald cypress is now known to be caused by the newly described Stereum taxodii Lentz & McKay. It is similar to S. sulcatum Burt, common on spruce and fir in the Rocky Mountain forests and on eastern hemlock in Pennsylvania, New York, and other areas.
There are distinct differences between these two Stereum species in host relationships, in structure of basidiocarp, in type of decay, and in cultural characteristics. S. taxodii is a top rot fungus, apparently gaining entrance through branch stubs or broken tops, whereas S. sulcatum is a butt rot organism. The former causes a distinctive type of rot, which in typical stages consists of rather large pockets of advanced decay scattered through the heartwood in a uniform and characteristic fashion. The latter typically causes a white stringy rot, which in some stages resembles a rather irregular white pocket rot.
Growth and temperature relationships are quite different in the two species; and S. sulcatum has a conidial stage and no chlamydospores, whereas S. taxodii has no conidial stage but numerous chlamydospores. S. sulcatum gives a strong oxidase reaction, whereas S. taxodii has a very weak oxidase reaction. Detailed descriptions are given for both the species.