Bracket on a Bracket

[Morchella]

In the New Forest for a long weekend and found this which I'd never seen before. No doubt will now be told how very common it is

Anyway looks like a very large old Ganoderma on a felled oak log with smaller Ganodermas starting to grow on it. Sorry that photos are not so good - it was getting a little dark.

[KeenTeen17]

I think they are young ganodermas. and they seem to just be growing from the bottom of an old stack of ganodermas. they do this sometimes.

[Morchella]

Sounds like they do grow on old ones then. Think the original one is a large single bracket though. If you look at the first photo you can see the shape of the bracket - it looks at first glance to be the wrong angle because the log that it was growing on has been felled and is lying horizontally.

Morchella

[flaxton]

Originally Posted by Morchella

Sounds like they do grow on old ones then. Think the original one is a large single bracket though. If you look at the first photo you can see the shape of the bracket - it looks at first glance to be the wrong angle because the log that it was growing on has been felled and is lying horizontally.

Morchella

Because the spores must be released vertically if the orientation of the log/trunk changes the fungi will put out a new "shelf" from which to drop the spores.

Mal

[fairplay]

This term is called 'Geotropism' and is in fact quite common, (esp Ganoderma and Fomes) but due to some woodland owners being too tidy, the bracket in question doesn't get the chance to re-orientate itself.

In this case it is not a question of a bracket growing on another bracket, but a perennial bracket continuing to grow 'how it should' i.e. so that the spores drop down.

Neil.

[Hedge Witch]

Originally Posted by Morchella

Well spotted, Morchella, I for one never knew they could do this.

[fairplay]

Just out of interest, if you were to grow say a Beech, in a very large tub, then make a wound half way up the trunk and infect it with Ganoderma spores and you were lucky enough for a bracket to begin to grow, you could, if you had a crane ! tilt it completely over to the left so that it is lying horizontal and every week begin to tilt it upright by 10 degrees until by the end of the year the tree is lying in completely the opposite direction (to the right.)

In theory you would end up with a semi-circular (and mentally disturbed) shaped bracket. As long as moisture can still move from the tree roots, up or along the Xylem tubes and continues to supply the bracket with nutrients, the fungus will continue to grow.

This (partial) effect occurs in nature after high winds, but unfortunately, out of management reasons or to make a bit of money, woodland owners usually clear the fallen tree/trees.

Neil.

[Morchella]

All really interesting - thanks