Fungus on Black Locust

[Golden Bough]

I was called out to look at a Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) recently. The top 2 metres of the main leader was dead (Image 1). Below the dead section the stem has a cavity with good reactionary wood around it. At the rear right of the trunk there was a column of decay approximately 10cm wide and 150cm high (Image 2). There is a an allotment, with a plot, over the fence and I suspected root damage from working the plot. On a closer look I found decay at the base of the right side of the tree (Images 3 & 4) and a very subtle fungus on the ground at the front of the tree (Images 5,6,7,8,9,10 & 11). There is also decay on the on the left hand limb / fork (Image 12) with good reactionary wood. The closet identification I can make of the fungus is Perenniporia fraxinea (Image 13). If anyone can confirm this, it would be greatly appreciated. Regards. Golden Bough

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

that fungi is probably secondary, the barks peeling, there was a bacterial disease of robinia frissias that made them die rapidly and stink, this looks the same, possibly armillaria attach as well there is root plate adaptions, i doubt those bodies are perenni as per your idea. perenniporia is perennial and tough like leather.