Beech fungus ID?

[Big J]

At the industrial yard where I have my workshop there is a small woodland that I keep an eye on. There is a large, old beech suffering from die back with numerous black, bulbus, burry fungal growths around the base, primarily between the root buttresses. I meant to take photos yesterday, but will get some today.

 

Just about every space between the root buttresses is occupied with these fungi, and by my best guess, the tree is hollow to about 6-7ft.

 

Does anyone have any ideas as to what it is so I can inform the manager? I did have a look on this forum, but if I missed a relevant thread, I apologise!

 

Jonathan

[janey]

Does said lumpy stuff look anything like this? The pics are of Ustilina (syn. I can never remember how to spell the updated name. Something begining with Kr... ) on an old Beech stump. If it IS what you have see, then 'tis bad news has it has a seriously weakening effect as it destoys both cellulose and the lignin.

 

If it's not what you have seen, ummm... Daldinia p'rhaps?

[AA Teccie (Paul)]

Does said lumpy stuff look anything like this? The pics are of Ustilina (syn. I can never remember how to spell the updated name. Something begining with Kr... ) on an old Beech stump. If it IS what you have see, then 'tis bad news has it has a seriously weakening effect as it destoys both cellulose and the lignin.

 

If it's not what you have seen, ummm... Daldinia p'rhaps?

 

Kretzschmaria...????...aghhhhh!!!! Think it's back to Ustulina now innit....Hamadryad / Monkey 'D'???

 

Paul

[chris cnc]

Kretzschmaria...????...aghhhhh!!!!

 

 

i think that is the correct spelling!

 

Kretzschmaria deusta, certainly bad news if that what it is

[Bundle 2]

If it's in a woodland the obvious thought is as to whether there is any significant target to speak of....If not, its not in need of intervention management is it?

Sorry folks but all this doom and gloom about bad news OMG and stuff....Just trying to set a balanced view.

Il get back under me rock again now!

[chris cnc]

sorry i agree, only really bad news if the tree is hangin over the house!

[janey]

If it's in a woodland the obvious thought is as to whether there is any significant target to speak of....If not, its not in need of intervention management is it?

Sorry folks but all this doom and gloom about bad news OMG and stuff....Just trying to set a balanced view.

Il get back under me rock again now!

 

Good point

 

The tree's life expectancy will be shortened if it is Ustilina (none of these new fangled re classificationed names for me!) but it will provide fantastic new colonisation oportunities for various other bugs n' beaties.

 

All comes down to the tree's location and targets. Even in a reasonably high target area, it could still be posible to keep the tree as a pollard for a few years.

 

Temporary pass from that place under the rock granted .

[Big J]

Does said lumpy stuff look anything like this? The pics are of Ustilina (syn. I can never remember how to spell the updated name. Something begining with Kr... ) on an old Beech stump. If it IS what you have see, then 'tis bad news has it has a seriously weakening effect as it destoys both cellulose and the lignin.

 

If it's not what you have seen, ummm... Daldinia p'rhaps?

 

That is the one, though it is considerably more advanced than that.

 

It's right on the edge of a woodland that is frequented by folk from the industrial yard. Unfortunately quite a dangerous position. I didn't have time to get pictures today, but I'll be along next week to get a definite identification.

 

Thanks for all the help.

 

Jonathan

[Marcus B-T]

K. deusta can be purely saprophytic (therfore no problem to the tree just living on wood already dead, so quantify amount of living/dead wood) but can be oportunistic/pathogenic particularly if there is ganoderma/honey fungus present. So even if close to a house do a proper assessment, no knee jerk reactions please.

[scotspine1]

K. deusta can be purely saprophytic (therfore no problem to the tree just living on wood already dead, so quantify amount of living/dead wood) but can be oportunistic/pathogenic particularly if there is ganoderma/honey fungus present. So even if close to a house do a proper assessment, no knee jerk reactions please.

 

Would accept that a tree infected with K. deusta is a tree is infected with a pathogen?