David Humphries

A man wearing a distinctive set of overalls tells me that this is the only Psathyrella species with a light brown spore unlike all its dark brown spored cousins. .

Got a little confused with this one when I first glanced it at the base of a horse chestnut on a drive by. Thought it was Collybia fusipes (bit late we thougt) so went back and had a closer look. Typical spindle shanked stem was absent and a few other things didn't look quite right. Had an inkling that it was a Psathyrella species, but I don't have a lot of experience on that set of species. Did the spore print overnight which didn't help pin it down so asked a friend and they gave me Psthyrella spadicea (the chestnut brittle stem) New one on me and a reminder to not paint everything with the same Id brush if you're not sure. Unlike Collybia fusipes this one appears to be wholly saprophytic. Added it as a new gallery to the fungi directory. .

Graft/weeping ash? .

Try installing it again when you have wifi connection. It won't cost any extra .

Compaction, clay and flying debris (as mentioned in previous posts) are the obvious issues as to why not to go down that route. We have used the airspade to excavate planting pits but mostly in parks where the soil horizon is generally less compacted. http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/picture-forum/22063-airspading-planting-pit-dogs-danglies.html Leaking oil in to the air stream is also something to consider with hired compressors. .

Interesting project Island, thanks for sharing. Keep us updated on its re-establishment .

No one can really answer that without seeing the tree in the flesh. The presence of these fruitbodies may just be indicative of a narrow dysfunctional strip of the trunk. Or there may be more significant dysfunction deeper in to the trunk. Images don't explain the whole picture in terms of tree vitality, soil condition, exposure, site history etc.... To be sure you really need to obtain advice from a professional on site. You could try the Arb Associations register of Approved Arborists/Consultants or someone else reading this may get in contact via a personal message. Arboricultural Association - Find a Professional .

Large pale ones look like Pleurotus and small orange ones are Flammulina velutipes These are both saproxylic fungi that inhabit and digest dead woody material. I would imagine that the section they are on has dead or dying roots associated with it. .

I think there's a wooden substrata inside Jon .

These Pleurotus surprised me whilst out surveying today. would be interesting to know what type/species of wood was inside the metal shroud. .

Hello and happy new year ! Might be worth leaving a phone number or email address for people to get in contact off the site as the employment forum is closed for replies. Good luck with your developing career .

One of the other delegates from the Padua workshop has co-written with Nev Fay a very informative article describing the weekend in the current edition of the AA Arb Magazine (Issue 175 Winter 2016) Interestingly there's also mention of another Ceratocystis pathogen that can be found in North America in the same magazine issue as above, in an article by Shane Lanigan reporting on the tree disease section of the 2016 ISA Conference from Texas. C. fagacearum (Oak Wilt) appears to be a fungal disease predominantly localised in the mid and eastern states of the USA. Similar to dutch elm disease, it leads to leaf discoloration, dieback in the crown due to the disruption in the trees vascular system leading to tylosis as a reaction which blocks the trees xylem vessels restricting water movement resulting in eventual death. The red oak (Quercus) group seems to die rapidly more so than the White oak group, this group includes Q. robur & Q. petraea Unlike C. platani, C. fagacearum can be transmitted by insects (as well as by contact, root graft, & timber movement) which makes this pathogen a potentialy more significant threat than C. platani. The pathogen is reported by the Forestry Commission as having no confirmed records existing currently, so not present in the UK. Although the CABI distribution map (in link below) shows it as present (no further information) in Europe. Ceratocystis fagacearum (oak wilt) further information here...... Oak wilt (Ceratocystis fagacearum) - Tree pests and diseases not yet present in the UK https://nt.ars-grin.gov/taxadescript...stisfagacearum .

Think the first two gano's maybe pfeifferi. Certainly looks like desiccated Grifola on the oak. Douglas brackets look like Phaeolus schweinitzii. The large Gano is more than likely australe. If you can, try and get shots of flesh and pores when you take I'd shots, really helps with pinning them down. Not sure on the last specimen but the gills remind me of a brittlegill (Russula species) the inverted form looks unnatural and may be due to temperature or some other interference with its normal development. What tree was it specifically near, the woodland looks mixed? .

Good follow up Chris .

Colly bird having crabs for breakfast in the garden .

Was a particularly fine set of saddles, on a lovely tree that is sadly no more...... http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/members-only/49254-should-i-stay-should-i-go.html .

Think I've only posted that image once before, not seen it since. .

Yes at Hampstead, don't think we've felled it........yet .

An indulgent look at some of the wide variety of different species that fruit from and are framed by the wound wood and exposed woody volumes created by the saw. Aurantiporus fissilis, the greasy bracket on Fulham oak Auricularia mesenterica, tripe fungus on ash Buglossoporus quercinus, oak polypore Chondrostereum purpureum on willow (possible) Dacrymyces sp on pine Daedalea quercina, oak maze-gill Fistulina hepatica, oak bracket Flammulina velutipes, velvet shank on beech Hericium erinacious, lions mane on oak Inonotus cuticularis, clustered bracket on beech Laetiporus sulphureus, chicken of the woods on oak Phellinus igniarius, willow bracket Pholiota aurivella, golden scaly cap on London plane Polyporus squamosus, dryads saddle on beech Pseudotrametes gibbosa, lumpy bracket on beech Volveriella bombycina, silky rose-gill on Sorbus Some fruiting from deep inside the heartwood, some waiting patiently in the sapwood for the door to open. All taking advantage of the opportunity to fruit easily where wood becomes exposed. .

Fomitiporia punctata chomping through this willow creating the opportunity for tree nesting birds .

Both interesting finds Chris, I'm sure Kew will keen to know. .

No harm in taking a breather, but careful that one year break doesn't become five.........time has a uncanny knack of marching on at a relentless pace. .

Have you considered Laetiporus sulphureus James? What time of year did you take the images? .

The young ones on the beech are likely to be Pleurotus ostreatus - Oyster fungus The single desiccated one may be an old oyster. The tiers of brackets are hard to be sure from that image. Helps to be able to see underneath the caps .