Chaetomium - Chaetomium is a large ascomycetous fungus producing perithecia. It is found on a variety of substrates containing cellulose including paper and plant compost. It can be readily found on the damp or water damaged paper in sheetrock. It is characterized by densely hairy, egg-shaped fruiting bodies, which in turn enclose 4-8 brown spores. The hairs can take a variety of forms, depending upon the species. The spores collect in a dense mass outside the body. Most species are strong decomposers of cellulose and occur wherever this material is abundant, such as in soil, dung, or rotting plants.
In addition to being a contaminant, Chaetomium are also encountered as contributory agents of infections in humans.