My favourite climbing tree and some fungi

[ecolojim]

Went for a rec climb this afternoon just to try and keep my hand in. Went up one of the large ash trees, but I thought id share a photo of my favourite climbing tree, and favourite tree on the farm, this large oak in the back field. certainly one of the largest specimens in the local area.

 

 

unfortunately it's started shedding limbs on the interior of the crown. sizeable failures at that.

Im assuming this has something to do with it? These fruiting bodies have been here for years, there was twice as much, but I kicked half of it off some 5 years ago or so.

 

 

 

and then found this one roughly 7-8m up the ash tree

 

 

Apologies for picture quality, taken on my mobile in low light conditions

 

all ID and comments welcome

 

Jim

[Matthew Arnold]

Black one on the Ash looks very much like I. hispidus. Not sure on the Oak. How recent did it shed a limb? And what colour was the heartwood of the fracture?

[ecolojim]

it's shed a couple Matt, most recent one is still a year or two ago. still hanging up there but since there arent any targets ive been loathed to get it hauled out. would probably do more damage than leaving it there.

 

unfortunately with it being so long ago the fractures are decidedly grey

 

sure is some tree though!

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

certainly Inotus hispidus on the Ash, as for the Oak bracket, looks rather interesting, did you get a close up?

[Matthew Arnold]

Ive got the same fungi growing on an Oak tree within falling distance of a few targets. It hasnt shed any limbs........ yet. I cant remember the name of it but i know it causes white rot in the heartwood. But if there aren't any targets it can be left to do what it wishes.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

If the fractures on the oak are grey they wasnt seriously rotted, maybe summer branch drops, no suprise with those overly long limbs which is a suprise in an open grwon situation like this, theres a lovely second crown in that as a reduction point!

[ecolojim]

certainly Inotus hispidus on the Ash, as for the Oak bracket, looks rather interesting, did you get a close up?

I didnt get a very good one but will take the slr out tomorrow and get some.

 

would it be advantageous to remove some for a cross sectional view also?

 

As you can see, it is afflicted with its root zone being continually attacked by agricultural practices, so in all honesty, im impressed it's still upright!

[ecolojim]

If the fractures on the oak are grey they wasnt seriously rotted, maybe summer branch drops, no suprise with those overly long limbs which is a suprise in an open grwon situation like this, theres a lovely second crown in that as a reduction point!

Id also be really interested to learn any ways such as this in which the likelihood of retention of this specimen can be made more viable! Im here to learn after all

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Its an ideal candidate for a bit of pruning to retain it for many many more years than it would have left to its own devices, with those long lever arms and a white rotter at its base its in need of some TLC.

 

Want an extra pair of hands for gratis?

[ecolojim]

thankyou for the kind offer! I shall bear it in mind

any work on the tree unfortunately is all depending on the old man and when he will or will not allow access into the cropped field. I shant get into the domestic politics!

 

took those close up photos you asked for. the droplets are rain, weve not been blessed with the best weather today.

 

 

was really tough going cutting that section out of the lower bracket, was like cutting through cork!

 

Hope these may throw some light on what it may be

 

other bits of associated info. this is on the north aspect of the tree. I initially thought it was confined to this side, but there are smaller rounded over 'domes' of what appear to be the same fungus nestled into buttresses all the way around. I chanced some photos upwards into the canopy too if they would prove useful.

 

Ive noticed a certain amount of die back from the tips though this could be coincidental. there is the wreckage of several large limb failures on both inside and outside of the canopy, but this could be summer limb drop or simple storm damage.

 

Jim