Unidentified growth

[flaxton]

Not even sure if this is fungus related but can anyone tell me if this growth is caused by a fungi?



Thanks Mal

[Dorts]

Originally Posted by flaxton

Not even sure if this is fungus related but can anyone tell me if this growth is caused by a fungi?
Thanks Mal

Mal, I would suggest that this is the tree 'over-responding' to an injury. It appears to be callus growth that has continued to grow unabated.

I'd be interested to know what species of tree it is.
Dorts.

[flaxton]

Originally Posted by Dorts

I'd be interested to know what species of tree it is.
Dorts.

It was in an alder carr so although there were a few birch and oak most were alder. (Inonotus radiatus found near by)

Mal

[Dorts]

Mal, I have to apologise! When I first looked at your photo I was on my small lap-top which does not produce a very good image. I am now on the PC and can clearly see that it is indeed fungal, though probably now dead. Difficult to be sure, but it could well be an aged Inonotus radiatus, which likes Alder and does become 'corky' when old.
I have also just discovered that I.radiatus can produce a 'cankerous growth' on trees!
Dorts.

[flaxton]

Thanks for that Dorts. I will try and keep an eye and see if anything develops.

Mal

[fairplay]

Mal,

I'm none too sure if this really is fungal, I've seen similar wounds (but not so intricate as yours) on other trees where BARBED WIRE is embedded.

I'm pretty certain if you were to dig deep you will find some rusty barbed wire running from left to right between those two semi-circular folds.
If this theory is correct, then there will be signs of similar damage to adjacent trees where you can imagine the line of an old fence may have been.

Neil.

[fairplay]

My memory is getting awful - I've forgotten how to edit my posts now !

Anyway Mal, I've been doing a bit of research and have discovered the farmer at the time was a Danish chap by the name of Mr Larip Olof and that he bought the land and erected a fence in 01/04/1991.
That would tally with the growth plates which I calculate to be about 20.

By the way, if this did turn out to be fungal, (but dead) counting those annual plate growths would still make the fungus about 20 years old and I know of no bracket fungi surviving this long - which raises the question:

Can Wabbers come up with the OLDEST bracket fungus they have ever found ?
Unfortunately, this would probably entail having to remove the fungus and counting the growth layers, unless they know of another way.

Neil.

[diggleken]

I'm with Neil on this, the patterned tiers of growth seem to mirror what would be where barbs on barbed wire might be, the growth is inbetween these, so a callous as Dorts said originally. Maybe ..................maybe not.
Cheers
Ken

[Dorts]

An interesting post. I too have (in the distant past) seen similar growths.
I think, based on the posts so far, that a possible cause for this growth started with an injury to the tree, possibly through barbed wire or similar. Fungal spores, possibly from Inonotus radiatus then entered the wound and a combination of callous, canker and fungal growth followed, creating the bizzare growth we now see.
Dorts.

[Chris Yeates]

Originally Posted by fairplay

Mal,

I'm none too sure if this really is fungal, I've seen similar wounds (but not so intricate as yours) on other trees where BARBED WIRE is embedded.
Neil.

My first (and continued) thought when I saw this - that just doesn't look fungal to me either

Chris