Fungus

You could be right , provided the spores, which seem to be present underneath the bracket in the second photo, are rusty brown and not white.

No, neither of both Ganoderma's, it probably is Heterobasidion annosum.

Rob, No, the correct answer is Lacrymaria lacrymabunda (= Psathyrella velutina).

Guy, Let me start with adding some more information on my line of research on "frothy flux" and the association with parasitic Armillaria species on Q. robur and Q. rubra. The trees in the survey were all located at rather close distance (root-root contact) in lanes and verges alongside paved or dirt roads and pathways in parks. Because of limited rooting space, soil compaction and nitrification, tree species specific ectomycorrhizal macrofungi were hardly ever present and were substituted by generalistic symbionts associating with all kinds of deciduous and coniferous trees, implying the tree species specific soil food webs were poorly developed and the functioning of the defensive and water and nutrients supply and assimilation system was severely reduced. 1. Tree species specific ecosystems with tree species specific soil food webs including tree species specific ectomycorrhizal symbionts are at the core of the life cycle dependend health and condition of trees such as Quercus species. Besides, within the same tree genus, there can be significant differences in tree species specific ectomycorrhizal symbionts and saprotrophic and/or parasitic macrofungi, which is demonstrated by Q. rubra, which has been introduced in The Netherlands 100+ years ago, only being capable of associating with less then 70 % of the tree species specific ectomycorrhizal macrofungi associated with Q. robur, not being colonized by a parasite such as Fistulina hepatica and being much faster colonized by Laetiporus sulphureus or Daedalea quercina with far more short term detrimental effects. 2. Without microscopical identification and assessment of the pathogens, the validity of your "facts driven" field research theory is rather poor, as research done without proper assessment, identification and monitoring of generalistic and/or tree species specific ectomycorrizal macrofungi and their presence or absence in specific periods of the life cycles of the trees is speculative and not much contributing to our understanding of the tree species specific ecosystems and the interactions of their pathogens and symbionts and/or the agents facilitating the recovery of infected tree species. 3. Quote : "Fertilization of diseased plants has recently become highly controversial. Some large declining oaks that received a "stress treatment" of high-nitrogen fertilizer into the soil looked great after a year afterward. Soon after they succumbed to Phytophthora and other decay organisms that thrive on excess nitrogen" (page 36). 4. Which facts do not fit what theory or hypothesis by whom and as an outcome of what scientific research ? And Phytophthora ramorum not being "virulent" ? What about the thousands of larches and rhododendrons dying and oaks succumbing because of Sudden Oak Death ? 5. Phytophthora is an Oömycete. 6. Did you microscopically check the presence of whitish or hyaline hyphae inside the black brittle structures you claim to be rhizomorphs ? 7. In biology, nothing ever is the "purpose", calling "behavior" of trees and other living organisms besides human beings purposeful and intentional is a form of anthropomorphism.

It's Tarzetta (= Pustularia) catinus s.l., including T. cupularis.

David, Nice pictures of Lactarius quietus and L. circellatus.

Guy, Thanks for sharing your observations. First I must say, that it is of no surprise to me, that your article has not received any contradictory evidence, because the readers of Tree Care Industry (September 2004) will be primarely based in the USA, so it will not have been noticed by arborists, mycologists, forest ecologists and phytopathologists from European countries. Then there is the fact, that the field research is primarely based on observations on Quercus species, such Q. alba, Q. phellos, Q. stellata or Q. montana, with tree species specific ecosystems, life cycles and soil food webs, including ectomycorrhizal macrofungi, European researchers are not familiar with. Concerning your article, I have the following questions : - By what method was the presence of soil bacteria and other soil organisms assessed and by what method was the presence of fungal pathogens, such as Phytophthora species and yet unknow pathogens causing Acute Oak Death identified and excluded ? - Were the tree species specific ectomycorrhizal macrofungi associated with the life cycles of the trees identified and monitored ? - Was taken into account, that the high-nitrogen fertilization killed the tree species specific ectomycorrhizal symbionts first, which was detrimental to the nutrients and water supply of the tree and left the root system unprotected for invasions of parasites such as Armillaria and soil pathogens, after which Phytophthora "thrived" ? My experiences with "frothy flux" and the association with rhizomorphs, plaques and/or mycelia of necrotrophic parasitic Armillaria species, which on oak mostly is A. ostoyae, on 150+ Q. robur and 50+ Q. rubra are quite different from yours. To summarize, my research over a period of 15 years has shown, that the "frothy flux" associated with and IMO triggered by the rhizomorphs or plaques of parasitic Armillaria species blocking the floeem and xyleem transport, can at first locally hinder the formation of mycelia, rhizomorphs or plaques, but eventually "eases the way" by providing a pathway or stepping stone for further development of rhizomorphs and/or plaques, which are well protected against acids and aggressive organisms by a layer of melanine. Some final remarks to the text and photo's : - Yeasts are not bacteria, they are fungi (mostly ascomycetes). - The rhizoid structures in the fourth photo (page 36) don't look like rhizomorphs to me, but have the characteristics of secundary root formation "tapping" the energy rich ooze to facilitate the formation of callus to close the wound, a phenomenon I have often assessed and documented (with photo's) in trees attacked by (rhizomorphs of) Armillaria.

Matt, Great documentation .

Tony, 1. I think it's an Otidea species, maybe O. alutacea, but to be sure : microscope. 2. Probably Boletus radicans. 3. Not a lichen, liverwort or algae sensu stricto (= in a strict sense), but a colony of cyanobacteria also known as blue-green algae.

Probably, although still rather young.

On coniferous wood ? If so, this is C. furcata characterized by the substrate and many bifurcated FB's.

Although both are genus of smaller Agaricales with yellow-brown to brown spores, they are no more related to one another than finches are to sparrows.

No, a Conocybe with yellow-brown spores, such as C. rickenii or C. lactea.

Anamorphs or teleomorphs of Sphaeriales can only be identified with 100 % certainty through microscopical analyses of the conidio- or ascospores and the absence or presence of asci in the FB's and the same holds for 100 % sure determining whether white or soft rot is present, which needs microscopical analyses of the affected wood cells. If it is a Cryphonectria (= Chrysoporthe), i.e. a Sphaeriales or Pyrenomycete of the K. deusta type, soft rot should be expected. And in this list of articles you can find lots of information on the spreading and hosts of Chrysoporthe cubensis.

It will have pores and tubes, so this is a bolete, and with Tilia it almost always is one of the species from the Xerocomus chrysenteron group.

There seems to be a (not very distinctive) orange-red net at the top of the stem and the blueing of the flesh is not very dark, so if this is correct, it would be Boletus luridus.

Stipe, flesh, pores and tubes turning dark blue on bruising and without an orange-red net on the surface of the upper half of the stem ? If so : Boletus erythropus .

Could be, but I was trying to "educate" Arborowan on giving more information on the ecology, characteristics and hosts of both fungi .

David, No, they are inside (incrustrations) and outside of the capillitium of the sporangia produced Calcium carbonate crystals, which are characteristic for some species of myxomycetes.

1. Russula species : with what tree species ? 2. With white spores ? If so : a Phellinus species. On what tree species ?

Next question then. Did you determine the type of woodrot : white rot, soft rot, brownrot or a combination of the last two ?

Rob, 1. Correct, with Betula ? If so, it could be one of a few pinkish Russula's (also) associated with birch such as R. betulina, R. nitida or R. vesca. 2. A mushroom weeping tears that stain its gills, which has changed both its genus and species name twice.

With oak and/or beech (or spruce) and with red pores ? If so : Boletus erythropus ?

This is what the 20 x magnified sporangia of Physarum cinereum with lime deposits on top on a Hedera leaf look like through my new digital photo and video microscope. Also see this post. ---

And this is what the 25 x magnified sporangia of Physarum cinereum with white lime deposites on a Hedera leaf through my new photo and video microscope look like. ---