Phaeolus schweinitzii takes down 3 larch

[armybloke]

I was called out to an emergency in my local area as a resident had said a tree had fallen over in a park near her house. A Larix sp at bud burst had failed and on inspection of the area I found 2 others with stem shears/hazards with desicated FFBs at or near the base. The tree that had failed completely had FFBs on the stem at about 1.5m above ground level.

[David Humphries]

Great documentation marco

 

Are the other two still standing ?

 

 

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[armybloke]

Great documentation marco

 

Are the other two still standing ?

 

 

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Thanks David. They are but only just. I have asked the contractor to leave habitat poles of about 5m as the cracks and splits will make excellent habitat for bats etc. (Budget withstanding) I think I will need to clear fell the small amount of Larch only because they are in a shelterbelt of a well used park. I am reluctant but safety of our public is paramount as you know.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Thanks David. They are but only just. I have asked the contractor to leave habitat poles of about 5m as the cracks and splits will make excellent habitat for bats etc. (Budget withstanding) I think I will need to clear fell the small amount of Larch only because they are in a shelterbelt of a well used park. I am reluctant but safety of our public is paramount as you know.

 

larch and Phaeolus is one of the worst combos,

[armybloke]

As continued evidence of the effects of Phaeolus sp on Larix sp I went back to have a look at one of them we made safe. At the point of 'cut' there is less than 1cm of live wood. The stem was partially hollow and yet the it was still hanging on and attempting to leaf as per pictures. This tree had a stem hazard beam approximately 2m long and was hanging on a Quercus sp nearby hence it did not fail completely. The Larix sp at this site are exposed to south westerly winds as it is one of the highest sites in Southampton.

[David Humphries]

Fantastic documentation Marco, top draw

 

 

 

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[armybloke]

Thank you David. It is a shame that I could not get some idea of the timing of these events to determine how quick this has happened. I am new in post in my new job but I hope to be able to survey and 'keep and eye' on progress. This post is certainly not closed yet!

[armybloke]

I wonder if Gerrit has any indication of the time of events and also if there is any other indicator (other than the fruiting body) that I can look out for in terms of the onset of decay? Crown dieback and apical dieback along with some low crown desity I agree - but any thing else perhaps?

[Fungus]

any indication of the time of events and also if there is any other indicator (other than the fruiting body) that I can look out for in terms of the onset of decay? Crown dieback and apical dieback along with some low crown density I agree - but any thing else perhaps?

 

Phaeolus schweinitzii is more invasive in Pseudotsuga and Larix than in Pinus and Picea. In the first two tree species the brown rot in the trunk's base, buttresses and major roots develops quickly making the tree vulnerable for windthrow or breaking within 10 to 15 years.

Often there are no signs of dieback or low crown density, because the mycelium doesn't invade much living tissues in the first phase of the infection. Sometimes the only symptom preluding the future appearance of brackets is a deformation of the bark comparable to that on Douglas (see photo). Also see my album on Phaeolus schweinitzii.

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Edited April 18, 2012 by Fungus

[armybloke]

Thanks Gerrit, I appreciate your assistance