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Stachybotrys
Characterized by clusters of colourless to brown swollen phialides at the tips of colourless to brown, sometimes branched, conidiophores. The dark brown 1-celled spores (conidia) are produced successively from the tips of the phialides and collect in wet masses. Species with spores in chains are referred to Memnoniella. A strong decomposer of cellulose and thus usually associated with decaying plant materials.
Species of Stachybotrys have earned a considerable notoriety in recent years due to their production of potent toxins in indoor environments. They have been linked to some cases of infant death in mouldy buildings. Rarely pathogenic for humans.
Classification: Chaetosphaeriaceae (Hypocreomycetidae). Holomorph: Melanopsamma. Ref: Ellis, 1971; Jong and Davis 1976