Fungus at base of dead plum tree

[Stewart7]

This growth appeared at the base of the tree a few days ago and because of the colour, I was worried it might be honey fungus.  I have since been told it might be Inonotus dryadeus.

I looked it up on Wikipedia and found this. "Presence of a fruit body may indicate that the mycelium has penetrated and weakened the root crown of the tree."
I see no fruiting bodies yet, but this has me worried. Do you think I should have the tree felled before it collapses? Would drilling through a few inches above ground level tell me anything about the state of the wood inside?

Thanks for your help

Stewart

[Steve Bullman]

Looks like dyradeus but the colour and association with pine it could also be this 

 

Phaeolus schweinitzii - Wikipedia

EN.M.WIKIPEDIA.ORG

 

what say you @David Humphries

[Michael h]

i think you might have misread the title Steve, its plum, not pine tree.

looks like inonotus dryadeus to me but not had experience of its decay profile.

certainly don't chop the tree down without speaking to an expert.

What is it going to hit if does fall over?

cheers

Mike

 

Edit: Just noticed the name has been changed to Pseudoinotus dryadeus . 

 

 

Edited June 5, 2020 by Michael h

[Steve Bullman]

6 minutes ago, Michael h said:

i think you might have misread the title Steve, its plum, not pine tree.

looks like inonotus dryadeus to me but not had experience of its decay profile.

certainly don't chop the tree down without speaking to an expert.

What is it going to hit if does fall over?

cheers

Mike

I did ?

[nepia]

But then the bark does look more like pine than plum!

[Stewart7]

Sorry if I've created uncertainty by not giving anything to scale it to.  I took the photo with a macro lens.  The fungus is actually 4" or 10mm long.

Stewart

Edited June 5, 2020 by Stewart7
Across should have read "long".

[Dan Maynard]

Ah now you've got me at it..4" is about 100mm so which is it, 4" or 10mm?

[Stewart7]

On 05/06/2020 at 22:22, Dan Maynard said:

Ah now you've got me at it..4" is about 100mm so which is it, 4" or 10mm?

Sorry.  I meant 4" or 10cm