What is another name for sap staining fungi?

Sap staining fungi are commonly referred to as "bluestain" because they typically cause a blue or gray discoloration in the wood. These fungi thrive in living trees and affect the sapwood, leading to staining without generally causing structural damage. The blue color is a result of the fungal activity that alters the wood's appearance, making it visually unappealing but not affecting its integrity as severely as other types of fungi, such as those that cause decay.

The other terms do not accurately encapsulate the characteristics or effects of sap staining fungi. While "wood-decaying fungi" refers to fungi that actually break down wood and can compromise its strength, "surface molds" and "moisture molds" generally describe other types of fungi that thrive on moist surfaces or that can cause surface level growth without the specific blue discoloration associated with sap staining.