Beech & Honey fungus thread

[Fungus]

With this post, a thread on the interaction between Fagus sylvatica and Armillaria mellea s.s. (or A. ostoyae) is started, where documention of tree species specific reactions to infections with necrotrophic parasitic Armillaria species can be shared.

First two photo's of the primal phase of infection with rhizomorphs and/or melanine covered mycelium causing folded and/or cracked bark zones or first shedding of bark. The whitish spots on the trunk in the first picture mark the places where Armillaria mellea has been fruiting the year before.

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Edited August 24, 2011 by Fungus

[Fungus]

Second some photo's of a partially living and still standing beech, of which the trunk base has been decomposed and made extremely unstable by Armillaria mellea.

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[Fungus]

Two other examples of beeches in the first phase of infection showing cracking or shedding of bark.

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[Fungus]

A dead beech killed by A. mellea two years ago, which is now also being decomposed by Bjerkandera adusta (polyaromatic hydrocarbons) at the base of the trunk (photo 2) and by B. adusta (gray brackets) and Stereum hirsutum (yellowish FB's) higher up the tree (photo 3).

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Edited August 24, 2011 by Fungus

[Fungus]

And a living beech, of which the trunk base is decomposed and hollowed by A. mellea and a remaining trunk base of a beech, which has completely been decomposed inside by the melanine covered mycelium of A. mellea, of which the melanine plaques still are present, before it fell during a storm.

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Edited August 24, 2011 by Fungus

[Scottie]

Fantastic peice. Thanks Fungus. Could I ask a question? As another idenification of A. mellea would you mention the aroma? I have noticed when I am cutting up some diseased wood you also get a distinct smell from the rot.

[Fungus]

As another identification of A. mellea would you mention the aroma? I have noticed when I am cutting up some diseased wood you also get a distinct smell from the rot.

 

Scottie,

Would you describe the smell, which IME only comes from the pale brown coloured (photo) and not from the white rotted and decomposed wood of trunks of Quercus robur, as musty, just as the FB's of Armillaria reek ?

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[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Scottie,

Would you describe the smell, which IME only comes from the pale brown coloured (photo) and not from the white rotted and decomposed wood of trunks of Quercus robur, as musty, just as the FB's of Armillaria reek ?

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after fermenting process?

[Fungus]

after fermenting process?

 

Possibly, though I'm not sure wether it is not (also) caused by the enzymes produced by the mycelium of Armillaria to decompose cellulose with.

[Fungus]

Two examples of cracking and shedding of bark after an infection of the cambium with rhizomorphs.

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