fungus beech identification Is this Meripilus giganteus?

[KTV2020]

Hi All, 

 

We have recently moved into a property that we are renting. It happens to have a lot of fungus growing round the base and in the surrounds of a beech tree. Is this Meripilus giganteus? I understand this is a dangerous fungus to beech tree and it will be killing the tree, can you confirm this? 

 

It is most probable that the tree has a CPO on it. The landlord has a great love of the trees in the garden and has an organic approach to tree maintenance and I am concerned what will happen to the tree if nothing is done? Will the tree fall over? How long will it take?

 

Please can you give your feedback of the severity of this case and recommendations for  the tree.

[Treeation]

Yes its Meripilus giganteus. Looks like a severe case as fruiting bodies all around rootplate and root collar. The fungi will be decaying the root system causing potential windthrow (failure of tree at roots) as the roots become weaker. The severity of in this case is high, although without seeing the tree in context (any chance of photos from a distance?) and seeing what it may hit when it fails its impossible to know exactly how much risk is being imposed and if the tree is very squat the chances of windthrow will be less. Fell will most likely be most arbs advice at this stage or if the tree is particularly valued get a arb consultant into see if a tree maintanance plan can be formulated to reduce the risk.

[KTV2020]

Thank you so much for your feedback. We have only been here since August, so have no idea if this fungus was here for several seasons. Without wanting to share pictures of our house or the neighbours, I can say that the tree is approximately 10-12 meters from either house and about 20 meters high, with a trunk girth of 4-5 meters. There is also a garage in front of the tree (about 5 meters). It has grown with an angle towards the neighbours property, but it has two large limbs in the other direction to counterbalance. There seems to be plenty of leaves on the tree and it doesn't look like it is dying.

 

I am just wondering what the potential risk is? And can it stay like that for several years before it become dangerous or is it dangerous now? 

 

Any further thoughts greatly appreciated. 

 

Edited October 22, 2020 by KTV2020
add further info

[Treeation]

Potentially is it at risk of collapsing onto your nieghbour's property so the risk is high and without spending hundreds on root investigations its impossible to really know whether it can stand for 6months or 6 years. This is quite serious! 

Trees with large masses of Meripilus have a high incidence of uprooting. 

Your landlord MUST make the next step contact arborist for further discussion (within the next month) who will come and view the tree.

Id be surprised if any arborist recommended anything other than Fell, given the context of the tree and the size, and the amount of fungi present.

If your landlord wants to go down the line of a potential root decay survey and a long term monitoring plan, then they should contact a decent arboricultural consultant.

[KTV2020]

Thank you for your advice, it is really appreciated. 

[Khriss]

And posting on here gives a time stamped indicator of its condition.  Little map would be good too. K