David Humphries

I'd imagine that its the pre-sporalating form of one of the pinhead fungi like Spinellus fusiger. I've not seen one like yours with so many filaments before. .

I'd say Meripilus Have noted it on Sorbus before .

Good to share Jules .

Fine piece of work, thanks for sharing on the thread. .

They're fantastic, nice one .

Olivia, If by PICA you mean Picus sonic tomograph, I don't imagine this would be the best use of money as tomography can only really focus on the function of the trunk volume and not the roots. Meripilus giganteus is a root coloniser, in my opinion soil excavation to assess the roots would be a beter use of funds if there is an appetite to explore further options for this tree. If the Picus option is being suggested as a way of assessing the graft, then that is a seperate issue. As others have suggested, only a site visit by an experienced Arborist will provide you sound advise to act on. The Arboricultural Association had a list of Registered Consultants that may operate in your area. Directory of Arboricultural Association Registered Consultants .

Hello Roz, It's always very difficult to determine which species of Ganoderma you have in front of you. The brown spore is obviously confirmation of the genus, but as for which species you really need to look at additional characteristics. I think that your brackets will be one of three species. G. applanatum, G, australe or G. resinaceum. If they are hard perennial type brackets then they will be either of the first two (there are annecdotal ways to identify between the two, but only true way is to have a mycologist look at the shape and size of the spores) If your brackets are soft and annual then it's likely to be the last option. Taking a slice will also help as the first two will have dark brown flesh and tubes whereas G. resinaceum will have a lighter coloured flesh. See the fungi directory galleries above for images. Although they don't particularly 'look' right, my hunch is G. resinaceum. No need for that Chris as we all make presumptions. But good to rule out species when there are good images like the ones above which show a number of key features like, cap variation, stem type and colour of gills (spore) Coprinus is a good call for the last one with C. impatiens being a good shout .

Armillaria have white gills when they are the same stage of development as the ones in the second image Chris. .

Hello Olivia some fine advice given so far, looking at the various options available to you. Something that Sal touched on early that I would be interested in also (if you get the opportunity) is that the ground shots appear to show some disturbance around the section of the root crown alongside the fruiting areas. There is a lack of grass which (discounting that its not associated with the shadow of being on the north side of the tree) may suggest that a previous owner has had a root examination (either by hand digging or by airspade) carried out by an Arboriculturalist to assess the lack of root buttressing apparent on that side of the tree. If this is the case there may be a record/assessment report of the tree and its health at that time. (for your reference, the last shot shows a typical root examination carried out by an airspade to assess the level of dysfunction/decay in the roots) Its entirely possible that this my have been part of your mortgage documents ? If not, it may be worth (or perhaps too late) to track it down. This information could help any future consultant/arb in assessing the the tree, if you decide to take that route. regards David .

a new journey begins..... Se started his apprenticeship with us a month ago and is taking a Level 2 Award in Trees and Timber at Capel Manor college. Will update on his progress over the coming months. .

Ganoderma, possibly G. resinaceum Have a look at the Fungi directory above for further information .

Whatever .

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I would think that's a fair shout. I often see kestrels at work resting and having a good look around on a protruding dead branch. .

Enjoyed that Reg. Fine bit of camera set up and editing. With these types of trees and locations I can't help but think you're missing a trick by not having a drone filming the 360 perspective. If you haven't already, you really should give a team like Red Bull a buzz, [email protected] I'd wager they'd be very interested in you and your work. .

Thanks again for sharing Guy. Is the term already within the relevant ANSI guide and well known to Arborists in the US? .

Any full length shots of the tree either before or after Guy? .

What did it taste like ? .

Very brittle detachment as these images illustrate........ .

Mostly see it on on beech down here in the south also, but often see it on oak as in this last image from a couple of days ago .

They still do, I met a couple of ladies a few weeks ago who asked me where the best 'gall tree' was as they were hoping to harvest them to produce ink. Seems to be an art form/medium hat is very much alive. .

I think of it as a mainly saprophytic species that degrades dysfunctional wood volumes mainly in branches and leads to a very dry hard ceramic type decay. Not advisable to put any weight on a branch that has fruit bodies on. .

Very well constructed program. Enjoyed the natural and human history angles. Interesting that they chose not to mention that it was pollarded at some point in its past. .

Although you do show part of the stem in the last image, do you recall if there were any rings on the upper part of the stem? I'm leaning towards them being one of the Pholiota sp at the moment, possibly P. aurivella. .

Regenerative pruning works well. .