David Humphries

Indeed, it may be down to the local climate and growth conditions over there compared with a slower growing environment here. Large - narrower growth rings. Might try and get a few snaps of the decay when they take it down. .

Though not directly associated with this thread, I've just seen the following host association which was a new one for me. Whilst out in north east Italy on a Plane Wilt (Ceratocystis platani) workshop, we stumbled upon a dead London plane with Fomes fomentarius fruiting from the base all the way up the trunk and out into the major branches. . None of the usual European fungi resources have it listed as a host so it may be pretty scarce on Plane. Anyone have any observations/experiences of them together? .

Just spent a few days at a workshop in Italy looking at Canker stain of Plane (Ceratocystis platani) The gardens of the university were very special, some very interesting fungi. Clathrus ruber - Red Cage or Lattice Fungus was the best of them. I'd seen C. archeri (Devils fingers) on a trip to Spain a few years ago but not come across this one until now. Not particularly great examples as these two were a bit past there best, but still enjoyable find from my perspective. .

This happened where I work Andrew, and it's still pops up now 30 years on. .

About an hour or so later, I was on the bus home after work and started feeling sick. Barely able to walk off the bus after an hours journey. Had dressings on the blisters on my legs and arms for a couple of weeks. .

A week in bed unable to move due to the size of the blisters. My GP hadn't seen anything like it. The pus came out in rivers. Napalm would probably do the job

I recall a stupid naive 16 year old about 30 years ago wiping a load of hogweed all over his unclad legs in the heat of summer saying he didn't believe the myths about the blisters they supposedly caused I've still got the scars to this day .

We carried out an assessment for a client on a roadside holm oak last year. Probably an older one than the one on your site. I had the spores microscopically identified to determine which species of Ganoderma it actually was. (This is the only sure fire way to be sure between the two species) I suspected G. applanatum but wanted to rule out G. adspersum as the latter species can extend in to sap wood more readily than G. applanatum. There was fairly extensive white rot within the heart of the tree but the residual walls were sound and functioning. We ascertained this via sounding and using a Resistograph to determine the wall thickness. This gave the client the confidence to retain the tree without any works other than further ongoing inspection. Your tree may warrant removal, but further investigation will provide you with a better understanding of the trees vitality and stability. This will then give you a measured approach to feed back to the client in terms of risk management and may give you both other options to explore rather than just leave or fell. .

Lots of questions..... Any images of the bracket and the context of the tree in its setting? Is the tree covered any Preservation order? Have you sounded the area of fruiting with a mallet/hammer? Does it sound decayed? Has anyone determined which species of Ganoderma it is? This can help determine whether the tree can maintain enough residual wall to keep the tree standing. I would look to get the level of dysfunction and decay tested by Tomogram and/or Resistograph. Is there any scope to reduce the tree? .

Pluteus species, possibly P. cervinus also known as the deer shield. Entirely saprobic, here on a dead standing beech monolith. Pink (salmon) spore print taken over night. .

Development of Laetiporus fruit bodies on red oak over 35 days......... .

Your third image looks similar to the images of these F. punctata......... Phellinus punctatus (now - Fomitiporia punctata) - David Humphries’s Fungi Directory - Arbtalk.co.uk | Discussion Forum for Arborists the Fungal Record Data Base doesn't appear to show it hosting on Beech, but that doesn't mean it doesn't. Speaking with someone recently who took down a London Plane with extensive white rot of F. punctata, it may be prudent to get the graft area (particularly) decay tested Adam. .

Yeah t'is a good list of trees to go and seek out. Personal favourite out of those is the London Plane at Barnes Post 72 here.... http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/picture-forum/27645-anyone-else-got-hungry-tree-pic-8.html#post891650 Hampstead Heath is a fine stroll amongst the trees.........but then I'm a wee bit prejudiced .

About 150 years old Andrew The Ancient tree Hunt suggests they were planted around 1857 http://www.ancient-tree-hunt.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/13EDCE24-4221-46DA-AC95-DCA87542FB01/0/ATHLondonwebtrail.pdf .

Crazy thing here is that the crew have tried to accommodate the roots by installing half kerbs yet still manage to significantly damage them whilst removing the original edging. Probably a case of wrong species and size for the planting area, but an observation of an all to often seen disregard for trees during road/path works. .

Fair enough, the image and context hadn't really given that complete impression in your first post. May be worth lifting the paviers to see how extensive the roots are and whether they're just surface roots or multi layer/depth. Pruning surface roots may still be an option without affecting the stability of the trees. .

Have you considered root pruning and the installation of a root barrier? Root Barrier Products and Tree Root Barriers By Deeproot .

Armillaria looks a good call, note any rhizomorphs around the trunk collar ? .

Just a private tree on a road close to work. Tempted to ask the owner if they fancied us carrying out a reading when we're passing just out of interest. Their gardeners remove the fruitbodies every year before they mature. .

That's great, thanks for posting .

Same oak taken on pretty much the same day...........8 years apart. .

Not a Russula sp I'll take a better look at it later. .

The ones Conrad has, he liked them for both aerial and inspection/ground work .

Glad to hear it

Someone on the chicken korma last night .