Multi Fungi Attack !

[David Humphries]

7 hours ago, Will Heal said:

Think there’s 3 different sorts on this chestnut, it’s still standing but not for much longer!

Are you thinking that is two different Ganoderma species Will?

 

Gonna be a lot of white rot in there.

[daltontrees]

Knackered Beech this week down the Ayrshire coast. K. deusta at the base, a Ganoderma about 1m directly above it, S. hirsutum on the mid crown and lots of Oudemansiella mucida on the stem and limbs.

[Gary Prentice]

Was knackered the technical term that you used in your report?

[daltontrees]

Some euphimism, like 'dead but habitat-rich'.

 

[David Humphries]

Next to a road Jules?

 

coming out or being managed as habitat volume?

 

Won’t stand long without some reduction in height and branch length.

[daltontrees]

It's beside a minor road leading to a static caravan park. The potholes are so bad that cars go past at less than walking pace (I had to invent a new QTRA target value). I have recommended taking it down to 6m. There's a lot of woodpeckers in the area and it would be good habitat for them and smaller birds to feed on.

 

And seeing as you mention it, a question. It is reallly really goosed with K.deusta at the base, can't reallly tell what the Ganoderma is up to in isolation. I am a wee bit concerned abut it being top-heavy even if reduced toa  pole. Do you think there is any benefit in these situations of really really distressing the pole round the top to accelerate decay? I suspect the top will remain mostly sound and heavy long after the bottom is mush, and it could fall over onto the road in years to come. I'd rather keep it tall than go for a 3m pole.

[David Humphries]

The Oudies are voracious soft rotters, and it looks heavily colonised. Branches and the top of the tree will start popping off like corks at Christmas.

[jfc]

Managed to stop and get some pics. I have driven past this a bit and noticed it failing. Giant polyphore on it at present, also found kretz previously.

[daltontrees]

Wow, that's not got long for this world!