Ganoderma on beech?

[jacquemontii]

Hi,

 

Is this a Ganoderma (applanatum/adspersum) on a beech (located near base of trunk). If so, why is the upper layer white and not brown, or would it turn darker later in the season? Does it take few seasons to develop the brown upper surface?

[David Humphries]

I'd imagine its G. applanatum or G. australe

 

 

I suspect it's young and still forming toward a bracket.

 

 

Sometimes they're sterile and don't go the whole way through to sexual maturity and just remain as a blob, I sduspect this one is the former.

 

 

Spore size is pretty much the only sure fire way to tell the difference.

 

 

 

 

.

[jacquemontii]

Thanks David,

 

As it appears to be a young bracket, I suspect the cause is the recent developments next door, adjacent to the tree may have had some adverse impacts to the roots, maybe some changes in ground levels or this new fence.

[Peter]

The age of the bracket isn't a particularly good indication of the time scale of colonisation/decay.

 

There could be old brackets that have been removed, or decay progressing internally for some time with no fruiting bodies appearing.

 

Also, that fence looks very new, I would be surprised if Ganoderma had colonised and produced brackets since it was installed. Symptoms from root damage following the fence and any other construction work are probably 5-6 years down the line.

[jacquemontii]

Some fair points, thanks Peter.

[Kveldssanger]

With a new fence like that I'd more likely expect to see saprophytic genera (such as Coprinus spp.) around the base of the tree, or feasting upon subterranean deadwood from where roots were severed.

[jacquemontii]

With a new fence like that I'd more likely expect to see saprophytic genera (such as Coprinus spp.) around the base of the tree, or feasting upon subterranean deadwood from where roots were severed.

 

Thanks for the tip, although it would have been difficult to spot these amongst the grass clippings and garden rubbish that has been hoiked over the new fence!