Phonetic: Fy-uh-loff-or-uh

This genus is universally found in temperate regions on wood, plant debris, soils, animal feces, air, and a variety of organic substrates. It is considered a water loving fungus, isolated from sub-aquatic debris in bodies of cold freshwater. Some species are plant pathogens and can cause soft-rot on wood, carnation wilt, brown stem rot of soybeans, and vascular wilt and dieback in woody plants. The species P. graminicola was previously considered the causal agent of summer patch disease of turf, and also appears to be a weak saprobe with some biocontrol potential. There are five etiological agents in this genus, P. verrucosa is a causative agent of chromoblastomycosis and phaeomycotic cyst in subtropical to tropical areas. The species, P. bubakii, P. repens, P. parasitica and P. richardsiae are causative agents of subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis, presenting in the form of mycotic arthritis, subcutaneous cysts, osteomyelitis, and cerebral or disseminated infection. This fungus is characterized by its slow growing brown to black, woolly to cottony colonies bearing phialides directly on the vegetative filaments or on short branches. Culture - Potato dextrose agar or Malt extract agar, 20° – 25°C, 7 – 10 days.