Pattern of orange crust fungus Hypoxylon ...

The image depicts a close-up of orange crust fungus, specifically Hypoxylon rubiginosum, growing on the surface of a fallen oak branch that has lost its bark. The branch is situated on South Wilderness Loop Trail at Little Lake Creek Wilderness in Sam Houston National Forest near Richards, Texas.

**Key Features:**

* **Branch:** The branch appears to be from an oak tree and lacks bark.
* **Hypoxylon rubiginosum:** The fungus forms a distinct orange pattern on the branch's surface. It has a crust-like appearance with small, yellowish spores scattered throughout its growth.
* **Background:** The background of the image is not visible due to the close-up nature of the photograph.

**Context:**

* **Location:** South Wilderness Loop Trail at Little Lake Creek Wilderness in Sam Houston National Forest near Richards, Texas
* **Date:** April 2, 2023

The image provides a detailed view of the Hypoxylon rubiginosum fungus growing on a fallen oak branch in its natural habitat. – AI vision