In Australia Serpula lacrymans occupies a rather unique environment, being restricted to growth within basal regions of buildings containing masonry. Its rate of timber attack in these situations appears to be far faster than that experienced in other parts of the world. Therefore the question arises as to how Australian isolates (particularly 16508 which has become a "standard" test fungus for soil jar tests carried out in recent years in this laboratory) compared with other isolates. This paper reports data on growth rates, decay rates and wood moisture contents. Though one isolate shows temperature effects on growth which are inconsistent with Serpula lacrymans, the others do conform to Serpula lacrymans in terms of the effect of different growth media, optimal growth temperatures, rates of growth, haploid versus diploid decay rates, moisture contents of decaying wood and survival after exposure to unfavourable conditions.

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