I.D on our village oak tree please

[David Humphries]

May have to give the tree a lick to see if it tastes bitter, and hopefully not be seen!

 

I don't think you'd get the same psychoactive response as when you lick certain species toads, but let us know how this goes also

 

 

 

.

[Alan Webster]

What village Steve?

[treeseer]

It's not too rare in the US, but not so common that I've seen a pattern to its occurrence, or tried to ID it. Very bright white!

 

Aleurodiscus and Perenniporia are the most common bark fungi genera here; does not look like those. ID is an academic question, as it's never been associated with damage ime.

[SteveA]

Update on the lichen:

A lichen expert has said.....

 

"....a very substantial streak as you say!

There are many white to greyish crustose lichens, but few tend to form

such dominant streaks. Modern digi-photos can be very useful, however

for crusts like this a close-up is invaluable (to see surface features).

Probably the commonest extensive white crust is a species called

Phlyctis argena, though that tends to occupy more limited areas. Because

it can often appear like someone has painted the tree white it is

sometimes dubbed Phlyctis 'duluxensis'. On occasion people will collect

paint marks off trees thinking they are lichens to send for

identification! Grey-white species of Pertusaria and Ochrolechia can

also dominate tree trunks. Around Aberystwyth here the usual culprit is

Arthonia pruinata (syn. A.impolita), but that grows on dry nutrient rich

bark Fraxinus excelsior and generally not on acid Quercus, though can do

in parkland-type situations. Other species forming dominant crusts on

old Oaks like the one in your photo include Lecanactis subabietina &

Schismatomma cretaceum, the latter a local species in Wales of ancient

trees. The only way to be sure would be to see a specimen - if you were

to lever off a small piece of bark, wrap it carefully in some tissue

paper to protect it from abrasion and send it through the post (ordinary

small envelope would do). Alternatively a good sharp close-up photo could

help. L.subabietina is very distinctive in having abundant 'dot-like'

bright white pimples over a usually greyish thallus."

 

....so I'll be sending a sample sometime soon.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

very common in wetter areas on Petreas

[SteveA]

very common in wetter areas on Petreas

 

Thankyou Tony, I've taken a sample of the lichen from the tree to send off for a confirmation.

 

Edited February 13, 2014 by David Humphries
cleaning up thread