Hymenochaete ulmicola
Local name: almrostöra
Hymenochaete ulmicola is a bracket fungus that forms thin, leathery, rust-brown fruiting bodies on dead and dying hardwood trees, particularly elm species. This saprotrophic fungus plays a crucial ecological role as a wood decomposer, breaking down cellulose and lignin in fallen logs and standing deadwood, contributing essential nutrients back to forest ecosystems.
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) svenpruul, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Fungi
Phylum
Basidiomycota
Class
Agaricomycetes
Order
Hymenochaetales
Family
Hymenochaetaceae
Genus
Hymenochaete
Hymenochaete ulmicola belongs to the family Hymenochaetaceae, order Hymenochaetales, within the Agaricomycetes class.
Species Profile
Hymenochaete ulmicola is a bracket fungus that forms thin, leathery, rust-brown fruiting bodies on dead and dying hardwood trees, particularly elm species. This saprotrophic fungus plays a crucial ecological role as a wood decomposer, breaking down cellulose and lignin in fallen logs and standing deadwood, contributing essential nutrients back to forest ecosystems.
Hymenochaete ulmicola faces significant threats from habitat loss due to deforestation and urban development, which reduces the availability of suitable host trees. The species is particularly vulnerable to changes in forest composition and the removal of dead or dying hardwood trees that serve as essential substrates for this wood-decay fungus.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
This wood-decay fungus primarily inhabits deciduous and mixed forests, growing on dead or dying hardwood trees, particularly elm, oak, and other broadleaf species. It is typically found in mature forest ecosystems where dead wood substrates are abundant and environmental conditions remain relatively stable.
Threats
Habitat loss and deforestation
Urban development and land conversion
Air pollution and environmental degradation
Climate change affecting host tree distribution
Removal of dead wood and forest management practices
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Hymenochaete ulmicola (Hymenochaete ulmicola). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/almrostora