David Humphries

Fomitiporia punctata (Karst).Murrill. Colleague and I were invited down by a neighbouring local authority to witness the section dismantle of a London plane street pollard with suspected colonisation of F. punctata (previously known as Phellinus punctatus) It was an interesting opportunity to observe the spread of the decay from impact damage and prunning wounds into the core of the wood volume and breaking the through the trees codit barriers. Not much literature I can find on the ecology and significance of the species on this particular host tree but we believe we are seeing evidence of white rot delignification. First image is a google street view of the tree from 2008, second image clearly shows the dysfunctonal bark on the right hand side of the trunk, associating with the dysfunction and decay. There also appear to be canker type strips flowing down the trunk below the fruit bodys, where the incramental live wood has been unable to occlude the dysfunctional xylem. Samples from this tree and control trees further down the avenue are being sent to Forest Research for further annalysis to assess the wood volumes for other wood decay organisms.

Hi Pat, to be honest there is no specification as each tree will be vastly different In terms of root morphology and growing environment. You’re pretty much on the money. Excavate the soil by hand with small spade/trowel around all the main butresses (or where there is a specific fruiting) being careful not to damage root bark. Checking for decay and dysfunction using a sounding mallet and probe. Be aware of any live cables.

Hand dig or airspade investigation. Either option will potentially give you more knowledge of the root/buttress condition.

Could be dead bark, could be dysfunctional xylem/phloem. Have you looked at or considered excavating around the trunk/root interface to assess the root vitality?

Looks a bit like Coniophora puteana

Think you're looking at Trametes versicolor Phaeolus schweinitzii on the stump Ganoderma sp on the cherry Brefeldia maxima on the twig and something like Otidea onotica on the mulch

Yep oak, been sitting about 4 years I think.

Coniophora puteana - wet rot

Yes, sapro

Psathyrella species perhaps but there are 400 species to choose from. Could be something entirely different of course. Basic ident features like gills and spore print would be useful.

Target the areas where you find fruit bodies.

Arb Associations Fungi on Trees is a good start, though limited to the 25 principal most commonly found species. Buy a general fubgi Id book (Jordan, Phillips, etc....) Join the British Mycological Society. Find your nearest local mycology group and go out on forays. Visit different woodland sites than your used to to find more unusual species. Build your own digital reference resource with species specific folders. Look at and catalogue tree failures you come across at work and other sites. Fungi identification is a long but very interesting road.

Airspading is one option. Uncovering the roots with compressed air and ‘sounding’ the roots to listen for wood density/function/decay. Can also use a spade ’carefully’. There are other detection techs available, but I have no experience of those.

Yes in a way because it’s a true saprophyte so it is devouring dead roots. The dead decaying unstable roots are the real issue, not specifically the fungus.

Look like one of the tufts - look at Hypholoma fasciculare

Yep

Sharon Hosegood Associates are in essex and have very good experience in Tree Radar technology http://sharonhosegoodassociates.co.uk/tree-radar/ We've utilised the tech a couple of times around some of our vets.

Fine image Mick, love the isolation.

P. squarrosa squamules (scales have been washed off) No gill or stem shots is a school boy error Mr Bullman ?

P. schweinitzii is an annual fruitbody, your example is the end of its maturation. It has developed, sporulated and then desiccated. Next year it ‘may’ develop a new fruitbody.

Desiccated fruitbody of Phaeolus schweinitzii

Few saprobes at work from the last couple of days. Lepista nuda - the Wood Blewit, Fomitopsis betulina - the birch polypore, Schizophyllum commune - the split gill, Clitocybe nebularis - the clouded funnel.

1842 surely?

Probapossibly

Think we may have a Werewolf at large at work, not entirely sure I want to meet it face to face !