Inonotus dryadeus-

Inonotus dryadeus

Kingdom: Fungi

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Subclass: Agaricomycetidae

Order: Hymenochaetales

Family: Hymenochaetaceae

Genus: Inonotus

Species: I. dryadeus

Binomial name

Inonotus dryadeus

(Pers.: Fr.) Murr.[1]

Synonyms

Polyporus dryadeus Pers.: Fr.

This has to be one of the most handsome of fungi, also one of the most massive at times. I have been most fortunate over the years having witnessed this fine wonder of nature enough to realise its place in the "species specific ecosystem" see (M.T.A method © Gerrit J Keizer

I cant believe I havent made this thread before given that it is the fungus that inspired my alias name:blushing: As a side note this fungi has had its common name misplaced and is the true dryads saddle, a name now taken (IMO) in error and given to Polyporus squamosus which is also know as the pheasants back and is far more appropriate.

Inonotus is an intense white rotter and although capable of inducing failures this is, as I will prove, a very rare occurrence, and often caused more by external combined circumstances than by the strategy of the fungi directly. It is usually confined to the old root crowns of Quercus (Oaks) and sometimes Castanea sativa (sweet chestnut) It is a natural root recycler in the "species specific eco system of Quercus robur, but can be a much more serious issue in other quercus Sp. trees colonised by I.Dryadeus have a very particular "body language" (C. Mattheck) displaying a widening of the roots and buttresing of the roots to around a metre high on the main stem. in very late stages, in excess of decades even a century of colonisation the tree often forms a cone shaped profile "traffic cone" optimisation (Andrew Cowan)

very often rabbits will use trees colonised by Inonotus dryadeus because the lower regions of the roots, especially the old tap root are lost and make very fine burrows, and offer protection from above by predators. Trees colonised often have exposed cavities visible between the buttressing, later these occlude and the tree appears to be living on stilts (Eiffel tower syndrome)

Root damge to the upper surfaces of roots is one situation where Inonotus dryadeus can overcome its host and cause windthrow, as the lower decay of the roots coaleses with the damge to the upper live portions of roots and the tree cannot sustain healthy compensation, otherwise I. dryadeus is a very slow rot which the tree can and does consequently compensate for. Road works on street side trees, or grazing damge from live stock(and compaction) should be cause for increased suspicion in decays via inonotus dryadeus as healthy root zones enable good compensatory growth to occur.

If Ive forgotten anything I will add as we go but for now lets get some of my favourite photos of this fungi up. enjoy

Strangley enough, I have just found myself reading that from start to finish ......I must be coming down with something

Strangley enough, I have just found myself reading that from start to finish ......I must be coming down with something

So what did he say Dean?

So what did he say Dean?

No idea Sean

No idea Sean

:laugh1: read it before you go bed

No idea Sean

you looked, thats good enough for me!

Inonotus dryadeus is an intense white rotter and although capable of inducing failures this is, as I will prove, a very rare occurrence, and often caused more by external combined circumstances than by the strategy of the fungi directly. It is usually confined to the old root crowns of Quercus (Oaks) and sometimes Castanea sativa (sweet chestnut) It is a natural root recycler in the "species specific eco system of Quercus robur, but can be a much more serious issue in other quercus Sp. trees colonised by I.Dryadeus have a very particular "body language" (C. Mattheck) displaying a widening of the roots and buttresing of the roots to around a metre high on the main stem. in very late stages, in excess of decades even a century of colonisation the tree often forms a cone shaped profile "traffic cone" optimisation (Andrew Cowan)

Root damage to the upper surfaces of roots is one situation where Inonotus dryadeus can overcome its host and cause windthrow, as the lower decay of the roots coaleses with the damge to the upper live portions of roots and the tree cannot sustain healthy compensation, otherwise I. dryadeus is a very slow rot which the tree can and does consequently compensate for. Road works on street side trees, or grazing damge from live stock (and compaction) should be cause for increased suspicion in decays via inonotus dryadeus as healthy root zones enable good compensatory growth to occur.

Tony,

!!! As an addition to the text : just as for most other (biotrophic parasitic) Inonotus species, it is documented that I. dryadeus not only causes a white rot, but also a soft rot.

Note the striking resemblance beteen the attacking strategies and the preferred anual fruiting spots of both the mycelia of I. dryadeus and Fistulina hepatica, which both live on/in Quercus robur (or Q. petrea) and Castanea sativa, tree species producing "vinegar" acids as a defense weapon against attacks of other parasites or wood decomposers, and the typical reactions of both tree species on the attacks of both macrofungi making long term survival of the tree (with the fungus) possible.

A question, did you ever see I. dryadeus and F. hepatica, both species being "vinegar" acid "consumers" and essential in the tree species specific ecosystems of the same trees, fruit at the same time and at close distance on the same tree ?

And I'm linking my previous Inonotus species strategies post to the text.

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Tony, !!!

A question, did you ever see I. dryadeus and F. hepatica, both species being "vinegar" acid "consumers" and essential in the tree species specific ecosystems of the same trees, fruit at the same time and at close distance on the same tree ?

 

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I had not forgotten this question, and have been "pondering this one" for a few days, and today been going through the archives.

I havent anything conclusive as yet, but its certainly leaning your way on theory as far as my field observations go. This journey has served to reiterate my idea and confidence in claiming Inonotus dryadeus is indeed a very special fungi in the species specific framework of Q.roburs, rather than the killer it is claimed to be (with only anecdotal evidence on both sides of the argument IME)

so, now im left with a question, uptil now ive thought of fistulina as a crown wound parasite assisting the tree in abscission of dead wood (limbs from retrenching through drought seasons) and as a recycler of minerals long locked within its heart.

Now im wondering due to the lack of fistulina in the lower regions of oaks colonised by inonotus dryadeus if fistulina like dryadeus is in fact a coloniser of the roots first and foremost?

I offer two images from the same area not a mile apart, one the classic Fistulina tree the other a classic Dryadeus tree (respectivley) i am certain both trees have been colonised for well in excess of a century probably several.

I havent anything conclusive as yet, but its certainly leaning your way on theory as far as my field observations go. This journey has served to reiterate my idea and confidence in claiming Inonotus dryadeus is indeed a very special fungi in the species specific framework of Q.roburs, rather than the killer it is claimed to be (with only anecdotal evidence on both sides of the argument IME)

so, now im left with a question, uptil now ive thought of fistulina as a crown wound parasite assisting the tree in abscission of dead wood (limbs from retrenching through drought seasons) and as a recycler of minerals long locked within its heart.

Now im wondering due to the lack of fistulina in the lower regions of oaks colonised by inonotus dryadeus if fistulina like dryadeus is in fact a coloniser of the roots first and foremost?

I offer two images from the same area not a mile apart, one the classic Fistulina tree the other a classic Dryadeus tree (respectivley) i am certain both trees have been colonised for well in excess of a century probably several.

If the second photo was taken in The Netherlands, I would say it was typical for not yet "exploded" bark and cambium necrosis, caused by the mycelium of F. hepatica invading the cambium of the oak.

As I stated before, here it is exactly the other way around, I. dryadeus being very rare, and - if present - always at the base of the trunk of very old oaks and never fruiting together with Fistulina, while with F. hepatica 90 % of its annual fruitings arise from the necrotic cankers close to ground level.

Maybe an explanation for your contrary findings can be found in that I. dryadeus' mycelium is far more competitive and effective in defending its territory then that of F. hepatica is and "chases" F. hepatica up the tree to a part of the trunk where it is out of reach of attacks by I. dryadeus. If so, you would only find Fistulina at the base of an oak, if I. dryadeus has not (yet) succeeded in entering the tree.

And in The Netherlands, it's L. sulphureus "task" to hollow the tree and dramatically reduce the crown by loosing its major branches because of that and is often accompanied by Fistulina fruiting from cankers at the base of the trunk.

If the second photo was taken in The Netherlands, I would say it was typical for not yet "exploded" bark and cambium necrosis, caused by the mycelium of F. hepatica invading the cambium of the oak.

As I stated before, here it is exactly the other way around, I. dryadeus being very rare, and - if present - always at the base of the trunk of very old oaks and never fruiting together with Fistulina, while with F. hepatica 90 % of its annual fruitings arise from the necrotic cankers close to ground level.

Maybe an explanation for your contrary findings can be found in that I. dryadeus' mycelium is far more competitive and effective in defending its territory then that of F. hepatica is and "chases" F. hepatica up the tree to a part of the trunk where it is out of reach of attacks by I. dryadeus. If so, you would only find Fistulina at the base of an oak, if I. dryadeus has not (yet) succeeded in entering the tree.

And in The Netherlands, it's L. sulphureus "task" to hollow the tree and dramatically reduce the crown by loosing its major branches because of that and is often accompanied by Fistulina fruiting from cankers at the base of the trunk.

I was contemplating a battle scene in vitro one day in my lab between the two, sounds like you know already what the outcome would be:thumbup1:

I look forward to the day me and thee may walk and talk amoung each of our sites, I want very much to have your perspective on mine, and to see your subjects for myself.

im going to pop into bradgate park on my birthday (next friday) and see if we can gain accses to the private bit at a later date, this is also one of Claus favourite sites, but if we could gain accses to Staverton park, you and me and david too would be in "our element" the dryads spiritual home.