Fungus identification and tree health

[tehanu77]

Hi, I'm wondering if anyone can enlighten me as to what sort of fungus is on this black cherry plum tree and what we should do about it.  The tree hasn't blossomed much for a few years and gets fewer leaves than it used to too.  That said, it's often busy with birds so we'd love to keep it if we can.  I'll look forward to hearing any thoughts / advice and thanks in advance.

[Paul in the woods]

I've never seen it in real life but it looks like the fruit bodies of silver leaf, Chondrostereum purpureum. Worth googling some images to compare.

 

Some information about it can be found on the RHS site but I don't think it's good news.

 

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=245

 

[tehanu77]

Thanks so much for the prompt reply.  I think you're right, it does indeed look like silver leaf.  Sadly as it's on the trunk already it looks like the tree will have to be removed.

[nepia]

Or reduced to a safe size and retained for habitat?

[tehanu77]

Hi, this is interesting re reducing size.  We would love to retain the tree if possible and can remove a lot of the affected branches.  There is probable silver leaf fungus is on the lower trunk and near where the trunk meets the ground.  Do you think there's any way to treat this and improve its health?

[nepia]

I don't think there's a treatment for it, especially in such an advanced state. But the tree doesn't become useless to nature because it has a fungal infection.  The reduction I was referring to was purely to create physical safety in a slowly dying tree; what you leave will be invaluable to fungi and invertebrates and they are invaluable to larger creatures as food as well as being worthy of conservation just because.

Edited March 6, 2021 by nepia

[tehanu77]

Understood, thank you for clarifying!