FFBs on root system - advice?

[DPR93]

Hi All, 

 

Came across these FFBs beneath a beech & sycamore yesterday, fruiting on the ground surface within about 1 - 2.5m of the stems. They look ganoderma 'ish to me but I've not come accross any gano sp. fruiting on the ground before. There were no FFBs on the stems and both trees appeared in good vitality; no symptoms of decline in the canopy that would suggest major root dysfunction. The fruiting bodies were perennial and about 100-150mm in size.

 

Also noted what i believed to be symptoms of quite a significant girdling root on the beech, due to very pronounced flattening of the lower stem. I'm hoping the client will fork out for us to go in with an airspade and take a look. 

 

Any guidance on the fungus much appreciated. There are a few few photos! 

 

D

[DPR93]

Saprophytic and nothing to worry about, or? 

[Steve Bullman]

One for @David Humphries i think

[David Humphries]

I suspect these are Ganoderma species.

hard to determine which species, but the brown flesh is a good giveaway.

 

I've seen plenty of Ganoderma fruitbodies growing from dysfunctional roots away from the base of trees.

 

Have a dig and prod around the location to see if they are directly associated with the tree roots or an old stump under the surface.

[DPR93]

Thanks David, that's helpful. 

[DPR93]

If I found that there were live roots below, what/how would you suggest in terms of assessing decay? 

[David Humphries]

Sounding them with a nylon hammer to hear the tone of the resonance to assess wood density is a simple option.