David Humphries

I haven't seen a graft failure in 30 years, so would be interested to hear if anyone else has? David Lonsdale has a section (2.1.2.4) in 'Principles of Tree Hazard Assessment and Management', that shows a failed Sorbus graft, and mentions that "grafts in trees have been occasionally been known to fail" but that's all we've found (though not exhausted that particular search) .

During recent inspection of two grafted copper beech, we decided to utilise the Resistograph to see if we could determine a change in wood density and structure across the grafting point. Neither of the trees presented with any fungal fruit bodies to suggest that there was any degraded wood volumes within the outer radial section of the trunks. Via the use of a sounding hammer there was a slight (but noticeable) acoustic difference in the wood below and above the grafts. The following Resistographs were taken from below, above and through the graft of the second tree (pics 5, 6 & 7). The reading from through the graft 'appears' to show a drop in drill resistance (@ 23 cm depth) roughly where we would expect the needle to have crossed the graft line. ........interesting, but we feel there is nothing of particular structural concern. Funky fluting above the graft line though, eh .

Daedalea quercina (oak maze gill) here on this oak bollard with a not too typical violaceous tinge to the top surface. .

With the wisdom of hindsight of seeing the cross section and based on the images shown in the VT, I felt that there was still ample residual wall strength left in this tree and what looks to be good vitality in the functional sap wood. Would have been interesting to have known which species of Ganoderma it specifically was and also whether the site had any near misses that may have led to the what I perceive to be a relatively risk averse form of tree management. The decay 'looks' to be somewhat compartmentalised as it has a pronounced reaction zone that doesn't look to be breached by varying levels of degradation. I would think a Resistograph would be a better option for measuring and monitoring this type of tree decay/dysfunction rather than a tomograph, particularly where the pronounced fluting would potentially interfere with the sonic readings. Obviously there may have been other mitigating circumstances as to why this tree required removal that we are not privy to. Having said all that, I think it was a good showcase for the general public to see what tree inspection and removal can involve. .

Nice sets Sean, always interesting to see how different people are inspired to capture the natural world. You've got a great eye. Look forward to seeing more .

Chris, see if you can find an English version of Jan Willem De Groot's work, entitled - Concept for pruning young street trees in the Netherlands. It looks at a 25 year prunning regime on young trees. Here's a Dutch version......... http://baumzeitung.de/fileadmin/baumzeitung/JbdB-2010-2014/2011/1-Baumpflegeinternational-Seite-19-68/1.4-Groot-(2011)-Das-Konzept-des-Jungbaumschnitts.pdf I saw Jan Willem present this in English at the seminar in Poland last year. He will be one of the authors of a new book on Young through to Ancient tree management, potentially to be published later this year. .

Fair enough, though you need to get up there to prove/disprove either way .

Not confirmed via microscopy as yet but I have dispatched our tame field mycologist to take a sample to confirm and then deposit said sample to Kew as it may well be a first for the association noted in the UK. We're fairly confident that it is G. pfeifferi due to the scratchable crust (image 3 above) and colour of flesh. The only one that its morphological features can really be confused with is G. resinaceum The flesh of resi is a lot lighter in colour to this one. There's also a number of other confirmed pfeifferi's on the site. .

Interesting example of G. pfeifferi discovered at work on Acer. There appears to be no UK record of the association (according to the Fungal Record Database of Britain & Ireland) Resistograph readings show some eccentric decay on the side of the fruiting body but nothing to particularly worry about at this stage. .

That's a fine total Steve, you must be very pleased. Well done mate .

I think that would be the biggest set of Daedaleopsis confragosa ever. Obviously a difficult example to Id from distance but I wonder if it's possibly a very persistent chicken. The pores look very small and un-maze like for either D. confragosa or D. quercina How big would you say these were? .

Cool, always good to get a confirmation to help build up the ident knowledge. You heard back pretty swift ! .

We all see I'm sure some deciduous trees occasionally retaining their dead leaves through winter before they are blown off before the new leaves unfurl. Often this can be seen on young saplings, as in this turkey oak pictured below. Marcescence occurs due to partially formed abscission layers which stop the leaves from detaching in late autumn/early winter......so I've read. This can be a result of early frost. The other more noteworthy thing about this particular sapling is what appears to be very late lammas (renewed) growth which is normally put on in August. The pictures were taken yesterday ! Top leaves full of chlorophyl during the shortest and darkest days of the year. .

The tree (at least sections of it) is in decline. The tripe is making use of the dysfunctional wood volumes. It's a slow decayer in my experience but may (probably will) lead to failure of structural sections eventually. What are the targets? .

Imagine you have Auricularia mesenterica, the Tripe fungus http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/tree-fungi-29.html .

I stopped in October...........12 years ago. Get a grip people, it ain't Heroin. Find 'your' reason to give up and just man up to it ! .

Depends on the moisture content of the specimen. If it's relatively dry (Fomes type bracket) then it's probably fine to just store in a breathable container until you post it. If it's failry wet (Fistulina type bracket) then it's important that it's dried in warm (40-50C or so) moving air (fungus drier, airing cupboard, boiler room, over radiator etc) so doesn’t get cooked. Otherwise it may just be a pile of mush before anyone at the labs gets the chance to have a look at it. .

Send an email to the mycology section via Dr Martin Ainsworth (Senior researcher in fungal convservation) at the Jodrell Labs [email protected] I used to send samples to him direct, but be advised that he's often away on field trips abroad. If an Id is required for professional purposes there will be a charge, but personal 'may' be no charge. There are procedures with voucher specimens that you will need to adhere to, so perhaps best to get in contact with him or a colleague and start a dialogue. I learnt a lot through this interaction. .

Thought about sending samples to the mycology dept at kew for Id? .

To difficult to confirm without microscopy. The two species can be similar in form and resinaceum is thought to also produce a stalk when it's growing environment makes that nessecary These lucidums (also from hornbeam) have the classic stalk which more often than not is required to raise the fruit body off the ground to release the spores as opposed to resinaceum which. 'Usually' erupts from the trunk. .

Looks like it to me. Random find or a work tree? Looks fairly exposed, perhaps would benefit from reduction? .

Wish you continuing strength and resolve for the coming year sean I hope 2016 takes you down many new and intersting paths .

Not as impressive as the first image, but I was intrigued by these exposed sycamore roots growing up and over the brow of this Anglo Saxon earth work (Devils Dyke, Cambridgeshire) .

Not sure if you're on about metal slings or soft slings? It's a little unorthodox to use soft strops with metal cable, but Treeworker supply bracing strops that range from 75cm to 300cm and are rated between 4 and 7 tonne We've used them on a few trees. Bracing - Treeworker Have a chat with Nod about configurations. .

Dryads saddle is Polyporus squamosus, not Psuedoinonotus dryadeus. Psuedoinonotus dryadeus is known as the oak bracket. .