Fungi id help please

[Treegeek]

I found quite a few of these around the base of a hornbeam yesterday this is the best one i could photograph we where asked to strip ivy so did'nt see them until we started striping.

There where few all around the trunk up to about 2meters the tree has a cavity that has been concrete filled, diameter at dbh about 90cm multistemed at about 4meter hieght approx 18m its a road side tree can't think of any other relavent info hope it helps

 

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

there arent many that would even try based on these photos! Not many on any forum!

 

pholiota aurivellas, these will be last autumns fruit bodies, amazingly long lasting tthese and will go like twigs if dessicated enough

[Matthew Arnold]

Looks like Dead mans Fingers. But unusual to be growing at 2 metres. Normally a ground dweller that eats dysfunctional wood.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Looks like Dead mans Fingers. But unusual to be growing at 2 metres. Normally a ground dweller that eats dysfunctional wood.

 

[Treegeek]

How does this effect the tree treat me as a complete fungi muggle

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

O.k if indeed it is what I suspect, Pholiota aurivella then it is a cavity forming endophyte, basically it is a heart wood consumer activated by limb losses and air intake into ripe wood volumes.

 

its only significance is that it demonstrates hollowing which can be from butt to canopy in some cases, it is also highly tolerant of competition and have seen it side by side with hericium erinaceus which is also a good combatant in the fungi kingdom.

 

It is also IMO one of those indicators of possible bat residence as its formation of long voids within the trunks of beech in particular make a fine place for a bat to hide out and often it is only a tiny hole at an old branch collar that gives it away.

 

bees also like this situation and often I find hives in close proximity to such features.