Dematiaceous

Dematiaceous is a term to denote dark-colored. It is generally used to refer to a group of fungi, the Dematiaceous molds, that produce melanin in their cell walls^[1]. The melanin is responsible for the characteristic brown color of the fungal colonies when grown on agar.

Dematiaceous fungi show septated hyphae with irregular branching. They are responsible for a number of human infections, including Chromoblastomycosis and Phaeohyphomycosis.^[2]

References

1. ^ http://pathology.ucsf.edu/education/residency/fung_morph/fungal_site/dematpage.html
2. ^ James, William D.; Berger, Timothy G.; et al. (2006). Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: clinical Dermatology. Saunders Elsevier. ISBN 0-7216-2921-0.