Mold Glossary
Below is a list of mold spores that you are likely to find in your house. Some of these spores may be dangerous. Call The Mold
Detectives for more information.
Amerospore
A general classification for non-descript, small, round spores which are unidentifiable by direct microscopic examination and
can include Acremonium, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Verticillium, Tricoderma, Paecilomyces, Scytalidium, Cunninghamella,
Monocillium, Gliocladium and some yeast. Aspergillus tends to colonize continuously damp materials such as damp
wallboard and fabrics. Penicillium is commonly found in house dust, on water-damaged wallpaper, behind paint and in
decaying fabrics. Acremonium requires very wet conditions for growth. Trichoderma grows well on paper, wood, cloth and
unglazed ceramics.
Ascospore
A general classification for spores produced by sexual reproduction and can include Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Ascotrica.
Frequently found growing on damp substrates.
Aspergillus and Penicillium
These spores are indistinguishable via direct microscopic examination. Aspergillus tends to colonize continuously damp
materials such as damp wallboard and fabrics. Penicillium is commonly found in house dust, on water-damaged wallpaper,
behind paint and in decaying fabrics.
Aureobasidium
This is commonly found in a variety of soils. Indoors, it is commonly found where moisture accumulates, especially
bathrooms and kitchens, on shower curtains, tile grout, windowsills, textiles, and liquid waste materials.
Basidiospore
This is a general classification of spore that is commonly found in gardens, forests and woodlands. They are also agents of
dry, white and brown rot.
Bipolaris and Drechslera
These spores can grow on a variety of substrates.
Botrytis
A mold that can be most commonly found associated with indoor plants.
Chaetomium
This type of mold can be commonly found on damp sheetrock paper.
Cladosporium
This is a common outdoor mold that can colonize continuously on damp materials such as damp wallboard and fabrics.
Epicoccum
This mold also tends to colonize continuously on damp materials such as damp wallboard and fabrics.
Fusarium
These spores colonize continuously on wet materials such as soaked wallboard and water reservoirs for humidifiers and drip
pans.
Memnoniella
This can be found growing on a variety of cellulose-containing materials.
Nigrospora
This mold is rarely found growing indoors.
Oidium/Peronospora
Both of these organisms are plant pathogens and cannot grow on indoor surfaces.
Pithomyces
This mold is rarely found indoors.
Ulocladium
These spores can colonize on continuously damp materials such as wallboard and fabrics.
Smuts/Myxomycetes
Smuts do not usually grow indoors. They are parasitic plant pathogens that require a living host. Myxomycetes are
occasionally found indoors.
Stachybotrys
This mold colonizes continuously on wet materials such as soaked wallboard and water reservoirs for humidifiers and drip
pans.
Stemphylium
This mold is rarely found growing indoors.
Torula can grow indoors on cellulose containing materials.
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