Tis the season to see Fungi, fa la la la la....

[daltontrees]

I am curious to know what this is. The smell of almonds is bezaldehyde. I think many fungi (and plants, notably Prunus) produce it as an insecticide. But both benzaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide are bi-products of the fermentation or breakdown of phenylalanine, a common plant and fungus protein. The smell could be from concentrations of these in the fungus but with the original source being the tree.

 

I could be talking mince, though. I would have been tempted to take the bracket in context to be Perenniporia fraxinea.

[sloth]

I am curious to know what this is. The smell of almonds is bezaldehyde. I think many fungi (and plants, notably Prunus) produce it as an insecticide. But both benzaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide are bi-products of the fermentation or breakdown of phenylalanine, a common plant and fungus protein. The smell could be from concentrations of these in the fungus but with the original source being the tree.

 

I could be talking mince, though. I would have been tempted to take the bracket in context to be Perenniporia fraxinea.

 

Interesting info, thanks.

P fraxi, or Rigi was my initial thought. Not convinced though, and I've never known either to smell of marzipan...

[David Humphries]

Has an air of Fomitopsis pinicola to it, surely not?! Does the smell of marzipan give you any clues David?

 

I know not, as sadly I'm nasaly challenged, everything in life has the scent of greying nasal hair

 

 

I had considered your suggestion, as it does have a 'look' about it of F. pinicola with the characteristic margin, but rare here in the uk and mostly confined to softwoods having a handful of records on birch, beech and cherry.

Ofcourse by its lack of record on ash, that doesn't mean its not associated with this host.

 

British Fungi - record details

 

 

 

Interesting hypothesis Jules

 

 

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[Arborowen]

Sorry David, I took the photos then threw it in the furnace as the smell was intense. If I price nice, well be back to remove the stump so will be able to sample again.

[Arborowen]

If its any consolation, its form in various sections was almost polymorphic, with a globular form with no spore surface visible. Then on larger sections spore surface and whit margin becoming note visible. It was similar in shape but not colour to the rare suggestion.

 

Keep the suggestions coming

 

O

[David Humphries]

Can you take a wedge/slice through it to show the flesh and spore tubes?

 

Do you still have it, is this possible Owen?

 

 

 

 

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[Arborowen]

Sorry David, I took the photos then threw it in the furnace as the smell was intense. If I price nice, well be back to remove the stump so will be able to sample again.

 

See previous... Sorry

[Arborowen]

This is the back of the little fella

[Arborowen]

Juvenile phaeolus schweinitzii?? Mature ones close by on same group of trees, (Pinus sylvestris.)

 

Looks to be growing from a severed root end. Potentially historic mechanical damage from Road works.

 

I tried for the cross section this time David :-D promise not to burn this sample so soon :-P

[David Humphries]

Heterobasidion annosum. I would imagine

 

Heterobasidion annosum - Root Rot, Root fomes - David Humphries’s Fungi Directory - Arbtalk.co.uk | Discussion Forum for Arborists

 

 

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