ABtrees

There you go - Will that's a great example but can someone explain how it works. Presumably it starts with a seed germination - and I can see how a clump of moss would make that happen but that is a proper tree (I'm guessing 1.5-2m). Where is it getting its nutrients from - it must be the host? So as it grows do it's roots effectively graft into the old (host) tree ? Like my pic, the branch its on doesn't look too healthy either. So for me the question is, is a successful self-set dependent on an unusual but not necessarily uncommon set of circumstances ?

Unfortunately it is very real - it took me 2 or 3 days took work out what it was. That said, I am sure that like any allergic reaction it will affect different people to a greater or lesser extent. Rolling around in it wouldn't necessarily have the same effect - it releases these chemicals when cut (which is why I thought to post - chipping ?!!!!). I think the circumstances are also crucial (as I have posted before on this). I was working on a hot day and was in a confined space with the cut material. Both things (I found out later) you absolutely shouldn't do !!! It started with a tickly cough then my throat closed up and by day 2 it became genuinely too painful to swallow and (happily for some !) I lost my voice. It took about 10 days to go completely.

Hi Glenn. Just a note of caution when cut it gives off chemicals that can cause serious irritation (skin and lungs) English Ivy poisoning. Info link below: https://healthyliving.azcentral.com/treatment-and-symptoms-of-english-ivy-rash-12316341.html Had a bad case of it last year - bad for a week or more - problems breathing, couldn't eat because I couldn't swallow - really unpleasant but hey on the upside lost nearly 1/2 a stone !!! Oh yeah there's NO treatment/cure - you just have to sit it out !

So away the last couple of days and came across this self-set, healthy-looking fir growing IN a big storm damaged beech. It seemed to be properly rooted, not just perched on some leaf litter that had collected in the wound. Has anyone else found similar and can someone please explain to me how this works - is the self-set parasitic or saprophytic or neither ? Do its roots grow into the 'parent tree' or just tap into the sap? I really haven't a clue - but I'd be interested to find out and I guess there must be loads of other examples so lets see them ? (My pen is bottom / left of the fir for size reference)

I thought it might appeal to you after your recent posts / airtime !

OK I know its going back a few days but thought you guys might enjoy this clip (from the BBC !) - not sure this is the right thread but it seemed to include a bit of the Africa, Christianity, BBC and head for heights threads/debates all in one ! I enjoyed watching it anyway ! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-africa-43079345/ethiopian-cliff-church-gives-priest-daily-test-of-faith

Well that'll teach me - I just thought they looked like beansprouts. I keep telling you David, my level of ignorance knows no bounds !!! I'll repost on fa-la-la-la-la with some better (and some new ) picks tomorrow if I get the chance.

I'm sure I found these in my Chinese takeaway last week !

Hi Mark Just wondered how you're doing - recovering well I hope. You haven't updated this thread for 10 days - I'm sure quite a few people on here are thinking about you. A bit like Khriss, years ago I was laid up for a few weeks recovering from an accident so I'm feeling your frustration.

Oh yeah - forgot Whilst clearly not a patch on Peasgood's, are these just some old Turkey tails stained by the moss - or something completely different ?

Gary You're right - I fear it has already happened - I'm now going out looking for them, trying to find something new to photograph when I should be 'working' ! Anyway here is yesterday's / today's additions. I'm sure they're all pretty common and I know I've seen the yellow one before (but there's 2 others in the same poor photo). The black one (in 2) may be the same as pic 3. The white ones (in 4 and 5) interested me because the only appear to be growing on old ivy stem ! I'm going to have a trawl through some more of my old pics - I'm sure to have a few others that may be a bit more interesting (do they count if they're way out of season ? See - obsessive behaviour alert !!!!).

Glad I found this topic as I was just about to start something similar ! I've got an area (now known as the nursery) which is full of (and I'm talking circa 300) self set trees (pics below). Clearly there are way too many for them all to survive so I thought I'd move them around a bit. Tallest is probably 2.5m (smallest 15 cms). A friend of mine has a small JCB which I can borrow for the day, so question is where do I start and how to set about it ? BTW water - not a problem !

Well - only half joking - I seem to be hogging this thread and David's time - honestly I'm a little embarrassed because I really know so little (about so many of the things on this site - see previous posts). You wait till I get onto the really stupid questions !!! I've got a couple planned one on 'deadwooding' and one on transplanting ! You've been warned !

Thanks David. Tell me if you get bored and I'll stop posting. There seems to be so many more varieties about this year - or maybe I just became a bit more observant !

Definitely jelly and small - sorry no size ref - stick is 25mm dia - maybe Tremella Stihlus - the orange is a perfect match!

ok here's one that caught my eye in the leaf litter - it matches my saw, my boots, my gloves etc etc.

Thanks for that David. You're right about the lack of light and the fact they're Hornbeams - got to be one of my favourite trees ! I have lots of them and maybe 20 - 30 are these old (neglected) pollards. In days gone by they grew /used them to provide the 'teeth' for the gear in a water mill mechanism presumably on the basis that the wood is so hard wearing (but in the event of a jam would shear unlike metal to metal). The lack of light has caused them to go long and straggly (as have their neighbours) so the haloing could be interesting! As for the multiple phased bit, do you mean take a length off each pole, leave a couple of years and repeat rather than cut one pole right back (say to within a couple of meters) let that recover and then do the next pole etc. If the former, how much should I look to reduce by, on the first reduction - is the starch issue based on the age (i.e. diameter of the pole) or is it distance from the foliage ??? They seem fairly hardy trees - my bonkers farmer neighbour cut a 18 - 20 m tree down to 3m (diameter 50cm) about 3 years ago - its now flourishing !

I guess the same applies to these .... because they look (to my untrained eye) like the could have / should have fallen over by now ! Struggled to get the exposure - right backlit trees on a sunny day hence crappy pics - oops. Pic 4 is close up of 3. They are obviously old pollards and I guess my question is: would it be better to take some of that weight off (i.e. reduce them back to the pollard - not too close) or is that likely to do more harm than good ? I'm guessing the first one has had its centre rotted out as a result of the (original) previous pollarding ??? Thoughts and advice gratefully recd.

Think I'll dump my slr and get one of them then ! You either have a very steady hand or just lucky ! I'm sure (though could be mistaken) that I can see individual spores in between the gills in that 2nd photo ? P.S. Got a couple more pics to post in the 'biometrics' thread later on.

Hi David That second shot is spectacular - what camera / lens have you got - presuming that was macro? Below is a new pic of the 'black one' and unless you tell me otherwise it does appear coincident and unrelated. There are also some (3) close ups of the logs. BTW what was the one in photos 1 and 2 earlier - like a slightly over-toasted burger ! I also attach a couple of new ones from this mornings walk ! Pretty sure the whitish one isn't the same as the Bjerkendera (but realise I know nothing !) and then the last one which I suspect may not be a fungi at all.

Not sure how this is still standing. Here's a couple of pics of what appears on one side to be a pretty ordinary oak. Once you get round the other side however it's pretty much hollow ! I reckon its a lightning strike that set fire to the inside of the tree (last pic). The tree itself is around 1.3m DBH (I stood inside it for that last pic) and circa 18-20m tall. The bit that I don't get is the weight/c of g is all wrong -heavy limbs all over the one (good side). The forces at play must be huge. I'm also not sure why the dead bit (on the bad side) looks as though it has compressed to crack in the middle (maybe under its own weight?). When it goes it'll be big and fast - I've been waiting 12 years so far !

Here's a couple of new ones I found today. I've no doubt they're all pretty common - at least round here ! On the yellow jelly one both the top and bottom jelly seem to have a black growth on the other side of the tree - is this just another part of the same fungi or a different one all together ?

"OK great - so that's THE parsnip - guess that just leaves THE swede and a couple of Brussel sprouts before I get my bone back !

Ok How about a caption competition for the dog's thoughts ? I'll try to kick it off with "Don't like parsnips" or "You told me I wasn't allowed to dig that up"

You see that's why I joined this site - I really have no idea what you guys are talking about - but you get me thinking ! Before I read your post Khriss I would never have even considered that the fungi may have taken because the tree was actually in the ditch and therefore been instrumental in its failure. In my ignorance I assumed tree got blown over fungi invaded as a result of it being waterlogged for a number of years etc etc. And David IF I understand it correctly this is just a remnant from the visible fungus that would have been present whilst the tree was standing ? Back into the woods next weekend then to find some 'chicken' - right time of year ??? Thanks both.