the body language of Decay, The Delights of D

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Ive been thinking of this thread for some time, though do worry ive started too many and wont focus on them enough! I do think this ties in nicley with the pollards thread, as this is an important aspect of my views on the co evolutionary role fungi have played in the various forms and longevity of our oldest and most venerable trees.

 

fungal colonisation is a complex affair, dictated by so many variables, tree species, local climate, elevation and even competitors within the fungal community. Some fungi can become dominant within a location, and youll find situations and "natural nieghbourhoods" (Alan rayner) within different woods, and even different parts of the same wood. The younger the wood, the easier it is for certain fungi to become dominant, this is because in a young wood, especialy one planted by man, even mono cultured being the extreme. This is because there are few variations within the woodland and so it may only suit one or two of the more dominant fungal parasites/saprobes or Mycorrhizae.

 

In an ancient woodland however, there are so many micro niches, habitats within habitats that over hundreds of years have formed and stood long enough for a complex community to form and colonise the woodland. To some this kind of habitat appears to be in a state of decline, but in fact this is far from the truth, it is prescisley this point when life reaches its most balanced.

 

Its only OUR view that sees the negative impacts of these proscesses, life however sees oportunity and diversity, balance and order. Shigo, a great man once coined the phrase "The demons of D" and his teachings have become so much a part of our industrial culture that it is now almost impossible to present the polar view. Some would consider him the godfather of modern arboriculture, and therefore i shall present myself as the Anti christ! "The delights of D":001_rolleyes:

 

OOOOOOooooo controversial! lol

 

As many of you know, these complex bio diverse habitats are where i like to spend many an hour in the company not only of fine aged trees, but in the company of the unseen microbial underworld of the fungi, the fifth kingdom.

 

we seldom get to witness the pressence of these organisms, they often fruit only sporadicaly, sometimes not for many years, and even when they do, it is brief and a week may see a particular woods fungal community come and go in the flash of an eye, and the casual observer would never have known of the secret woodland parade that occured in their absence.

 

However, the dedicated Arb-mycota knows thier little secrets, and has spent many hours patiently walking and paying attention to their quiet ways, and they have repaid this attention and admiration, and given me a unique view of the woodland habitat that i could never have gained if not for the knowing of fungi, and the teachings of Claus Mattheck who first introduced me to the body language of trees.

 

Through this thread I intend to take this concept to the enth degree, and show you all in no uncertain terms that which I have been trying to show you for all my time in this forum, to take the body language of trees to another level. This will go beyond "bottle butt" bottle butt is seldom the txt book example, and has many many nuances that are displayed in many subtle ways due to many different fungal colonisers with sometimes VERY different strategies.

 

This is important for us all, especialy as we move toward a more ecological approach to arboriculture, arboriculture is changing and it is this area of our science that will see the biggest advancments. knowing decay intimatley will allow the retention of what at first glance may appear far worse than it really is, after all, trees have evolved WITH fungi, and from the very earliest times. The fungi where probably there before the trees (as Lichens), and so, from the very outset trees have had to evolve ways of living with thier fungal associates for eachothers mutual and "inclusional" (Alan Rayner) benifits.

 

And we havent even begun to think about the habitat for other species that is created within this relationship between trees and fungi, individual species of owls have evolved certain preferences to particular decay colomns and pockets, as have bats, understanding the co evolutionary relationship trees and fungi have shared is key to saving the many other species that are now threatened by the loss.

 

I dont yet know how i am going to tell the story, and reveal the "body language of decay" But this subject is so very close to my heart and one that i will now be forced to record, observe and document all the more in order to convince all that there really is much delight in the Mighty D's Death/Decay/Dysfunction.

 

I apologise for the lack of images currently, this thread is very important to me and i will be spending much time in the archives selecting the right images to build the picture.

 

I would also say at the very outset, that i am unqualified to speak on this level, that these opinions/observations, whilst influenced by others teachings (Alan rayner, Ted Green, Andrew Cowen, Claus Mattheck) are my own and I will stand soley in the face of any ridicule due as a result!

 

"Oh lord have mercy upon my soul, i'm about to walk into the wolfpack!"

[David Humphries]

I'll take a seat, will it be a long trip sir?

 

 

 

 

Fine, fine sounding thread. Look forward to it unfurling

 

 

 

.

[Bart]

Another Quality thread

 

Nice introduction, just like the introduction of a book.

[Ben Ballard]

:thumbup1:great thread/would make a great book, i look forward to reading more

[Xerxses]

Seated and attending, Sir!

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Lol, you lot are being a bit sarcastic im certain! Your going to have to be patient, im doing mucho reading and photo searching so that this really is all i expect to deliver.

 

I suppose i best at least make a start and get some pics up!

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

So, body language of decay, lets start with one a lot of folk seem to be concerned about, Inonotus dryadeus, a good one for the start because its symptom is very identifiable. Ive observed the decay of Inonotus dryadeus on well over 100 trees now, and would like to think this is enough observational experience to have the right to say with some authority! This fungus can overun its host in the right conditions, though this is a rarity and an exception rather than the rule, it forms a roughly cone shaped cavity, wide at the base and pointed at the peak, usualy upto a metre or two into the stem, sometimes the decay can reach much higher levels but once again, this is a rare occurance and these images are atypical of the butt formation and compensatory growth within Quercus roburs colonised by I. dryadeus.

 

I hope in time to prove that with the higher decays that these are those instances where the tree is being overcome, that the higher decay is an indication of thin residual wall thicknesses i.e low T/r ratios.

 

This root crown and buttressing is absolutley indiciative of the fungi and when you have enough experience of this one, youll spot the decay from hundreds of yards away in fields whilst driving, with no fruit body present! When youve got your eye in, believe me, youll find yourself running into fields all the time to see if a bracket is lurking out of view, and when there is one its so rewarding! when there isnt, well you just say O.k you shy little toad i will be back!

 

 

 

 

 

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

so, more of this subject, this time beech with decay and fracture associated with Auricularia messenterica, the tripe fungus. you wont read about this one in the major titles, its gone under the radar, i cant prove much of this at the mo as anyone who follows my insane dribble knows, its all guesswork till i got the kit. This one is a classic, the symptoms are obvious once youve got your eye in. Its down as a weak parasite, though i promise you, this is going to get a change, a radical one! Its a shy fruiter, youll have to hunt far and wide for fruit bodies in this scenario, but keep looking and they will reveal, eventualy. This also is not just a local thing, ive seen it from cornwall to ashridge, so maybe limited to south if limited at all.

 

Definatley has an effect on cambial growth/occlusions, and this produces vigorous regrowth and the proscess is cleary that of retrenching and vetranisation, a co evolutionary relationship. I reckon this relationship has been going on for millenia, just we hadnt noticed, till now.

 

Im going to let the images do the talking, loads of this one as its a hot topic of mine and one i am keen to work out and write on at some stage to put it in the propper records.

 

so, here you go, the tripe and its associated language, youll see this one a whole heap more once you got your head round the body language and fractures, pay particular attention to the cambial disturbances.

 

i think we should be re classifying fungal pathogenicity on a new system, a four level system I e a graded 1-4 level pathogen, for example level one, represents wall 1 the tyloses, wall two etc, if a fungi presents an ability to penetrate wall 1 but no others, classified as level 1 patho, this i think is a typical cambium killing scenario.

 

We also need to research water relationships, ie drought stress as i and others believe this to be the key in fungal ingress or advancment from a latent stage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

more adaption from colonisation of Quercus via inonotus dryadeus-

 

totaly new set of roots and no more heart roots or tap roots, this is living with dryadeus, it has its advantages, for one thing there is no longer any conflicts of force flows from the old tap root and verticaly aligned woody core as the new wood is layed down in an alternate path, optimal to the tensile triangle.

 

[penfold]

this is a great thread tony. I've just started covering this in my foundation degree at Askham Bryan college. I'm looking forward to reading more of this.