D. Concentrica - an observation for discussion

[hamadryad]

I have noticed something that is no longer just an isolated case, but now a common scenario and wondered if anyone else had noticed this change.

D. concentrica is getting bigger on average than I have ever seen it often the size of a tangerine now, when found on its usual host of dead ash wood. It has also started showing on species it is not commonly known to inhabit, I.E Chestnut beech amoungst others.

this is not just the odd one here and there, this is all over the place has anyone else found particulary large d concentrica lately or in the las 18months

[Chris Yeates]

hi

there is a problem here H . . . in the past it was thought that there were two Daldinia species in the UK - Daldinia concentrica and D. vernicosa

the latter name has now gone and partly been replaced with Daldinia fissa and there is now a total of 7 Daldinia species recorded for the UK; and distinguishing them is not straightforward (although host plant does provide a bit of a guide)

in the light of this, comparing fruit-body sizes could prove problematical . . . dimensions might be species-related and one might not be comparing like with like

I think that a study of fruitbody sizes on an individual tree over several seasons could prove interesting in that you could be fairly certain that you are dealing with the same Daldinia taxon even if you weren't 100% sure which one it was!

cheers

Chris

[hamadryad]

I get where your coming from, but I always go to the same woods, this is just one thing amoung many Ive noticed. The principle decay fungi, the big boys like meripilus, squamosas, Dryadues, the Ganadermatacea's and Hispidus etc are epidemic and have really got going in the last three wet summers.

with 6 years of increasing record temps and dry summers in the preceeding years which stresses trees of temperate climates and dessicates wood causing cracks from micro to macro in size allowing fungi to get a good grip on their hosts. i think this is part of the proscess that speeds up organic breakdown of carbons into the atmosphere in a global warming scenario. as temps increase the organisms that break down organic compounds increase in activity and extend their working season, speeding up the warming exponentialy.

being so closely involved with trees i guess I notice it more, when i scan the landscape around me I see so many trees in decline, its the main way i locate fungi for my photographs. I look to the trees to indicate where there is dysfunction and or decay. It is no coincidance that i have shot more of the principle decay fungi in the last three years than the last 10 before that.

There are many threats to our trees at present that are new to science some that are just new to our shores, one thing is certain though, our landscape is being transformed by a force we have absolutley no idea about.

[flaxton]

Not sure if this is classed as one Daldinia but it was certainly bigger than the average



It was growing on ash

Mal

[NickCantle]

That's a Mole hiding!

[hamadryad]

oh that actualy made me laugh out loud and start a coffing fit, this is kind of my point! thanks nick

[Fungalpunk]

I found a Daldinia on Maple at the weekend and am now wary as to naming it due to the sudden splitting of the family. What are the 7 species and is it a case of host plant being the key ID. I've mooched around trying to get info on Daldinia and come up with nowt. It would be interesting to see if the ID process is a relatively easy one.

Fungalpunk Dave

[Ditiola]

Originally Posted by Fungalpunk

I found a Daldinia on Maple at the weekend and am now wary as to naming it due to the sudden splitting of the family. What are the 7 species and is it a case of host plant being the key ID. I've mooched around trying to get info on Daldinia and come up with nowt. It would be interesting to see if the ID process is a relatively easy one.

Fungalpunk Dave

Hi

At: : Xylariaceae: Home There is a synoptic key to 19 species although you will need a microscope.

Peter

[Fungalpunk]

Cheers mate and very interesting. It is amazing that the more I learn the smaller and smaller my lists get. I will look into this area carefully and make enquiries to try and establish if the actually ID is easier than suggested.

Fungalpunk Dave