Where Does The Fungus Merulius Lacrymans Live?
This fungus cannot live in open air, it being too dry there. The high humidity that is required for this fungus to thrive is found only in an insufficiently ventilated damp place. The fungus stops growing when it becomes too dry, but it can start up again as soon as it becomes damp. Once it has grown sufficiently, it itself can give off the dampness required for continued growth. The growth rate of this fungus is affected by the temperature. To grow, it must have a temperature of at least 38 degrees Fahrenheit (3 degrees Celsius) but it does best at 65 degrees to 73 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees to 23 degrees Celsius). When the temperature rises above 79 degrees Fahrenheit (26 degrees Celsius), growth is sluggish. At 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius), the growth rate is three times as fast as at 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius).
