Culmicole

Culmicole describes organisms, specifically fungi, that live on or within the culm of grasses. The culm is the aerial stem of a grass, typically hollow between the nodes. Culmicole fungi are therefore specialized to inhabit this particular part of a grass plant, often playing a role in decomposition of dead culms, or sometimes acting as pathogens affecting living culms. This lifestyle differentiates them from other fungi that might inhabit the roots, leaves, or seeds of the same grass. The term helps classify fungi based on their substrate preference and ecological niche. Understanding whether a fungus is culmicole is important in plant pathology, mycology, and ecology.