Unidentified fungi

[musichal]

Can anyone identify the fungi shown here?
They are growing on a mature beech tree at the edge of my garden, and I am worried that they are indicative of a problem with the tree.
I noticed them last year, when they were white, and looked like plaster wall lights.

[mollisia]

Hello,

I think those are Ganoderma fruitbodies and I also think they ARE indicative of a problem with your tree.

best regards,
Andreas

[fairplay]

Hi Musichal,

Welcome to the forum.
Are you any good with a chainsaw ?

That's about it I'm afraid, you have some large brackets there and there is no knowing what they have done to the inside of the trunk or the branches and sometimes the roots.
It turns the wood into a white sponge and then there will be nothing to hold the tree up.
Phone up a tree surgeon Monday morning to get an expert opinion, but I'm certain he will tell you to have it down, especially if it could fall on a building or threaten the general public.

If it has to come down, please ask the chainsaw operator to cut it off at chest to shoulder height as this will benifit other less harmful fungi and is good for the invertebrates, esp' beetles.

Neil.

[musichal]

Many thanks for the prompt responses.
Clearly I will need to get this sorted out quickly.

[hamadryad]

This bracket is only a MAJOR concern if it is G.australe, if G.applanatum not such an issue. A tree like this may compartmentalise the decay and grow on perfectly happy for many decades with applanatum which is more sprophytic than parasitic, unlike australe which is aggressivley invasive and capable of using the "reaction zone" chemical barrier as a food source.

The fact the fruit bodies are big and healthy indicates lots of residual wood, which means strength, in the early stagesd fracture resistance is actualy increased in most circumstances, so doubt its going to fall this week.

However, like all the others say, its pretty fair to say it needs to go but do make sure that a certified V.T.A arborist has a good look first as it may be possible to retain ity in a somewhat lesser form for a very long time.

If it is to be felled, consider leaving the stump even higher as what we call a "monolith" around ten feet or so, as there are many beetles and other organisms that will relish the partly rotten wood within the old stump.

if within 25 miles will have a look for you, gratis

[fairplay]

Whilst it may say 'in the books' that large brackets equals plenty of wood still left to feed on, if the butt or roots are infected that tree is weak.

Both G.australe and applanatum are both parasitic and saprophytic and in my 40 years of countryside activities have known many 'qualified arborists' state a particular tree to be safe only for a large branch or the tree itself to fall down the very same week and I can even quote a case where a certain County Wildlife Trust 'qualified' expert told the warden the tree was safe, when a very large branch came crashing down as they were walking away.

At the end of the day, it all boils down to :

1. Does the home owner have children playing in the garden ? Personally i could never live with myself if I delayed a decision which had fatal consequences.
2. Are the public at risk ?
3. Is property at risk ?

Neil. (and yes, I do intend to be alarmist)