ID for purple stuff with shiny bits on a felled tree trunk, please

[alindsay]

Not even sure this is a fungus....

Found on a felled tree trunk in parkland, last week with many mature trees, sweet chestnuts, birch, oaks etc

I couldn't name the type of tree the trunk was from, but it was covered in 'moss' and Cladonia sp.

It was a cold, but sunny day.

Not Peniophora quercina by any chance?







Thanks in advance ..........

[fairplay]

P.quercina is more often seen on the underside of attached twigs - not sure what you have here.

Neil.

[mollisia]

Hello,

no, definitely not Peniophora quercina.
I wouldn't be too sure wether this is a fungus at all .....

best regards,
Andreas

[The Woodman]

I expect to be shot down on this but the images of bark are reminiscent of the early bleed from Phytophthora infected grey alders.

[fairplay]

Originally Posted by The Woodman

I expect to be shot down on this but the images of bark are reminiscent of the early bleed from Phytophthora infected grey alders.

Very interesting, you're referring to Phytophthora alni I suppose.
I'm only familiar with the darker stage when it can look very similar to Camarops polysperma (of which we now have 3 records in Suffolk)

I recall reading that P.alni starts as a deep red bleed, so if this stump is indeed Alnus, then P.alni could be a very good shout.

Neil.

[alindsay]

I can neither confirm nor rule out that the felled stump was Alder, but the purple stuff did appear to be bleeding out of scars where other branches had been lopped of the main trunk.

Having now read up a bit about Phytophthora, I could well believe this was what I saw. No wonder it had been chopped down

Thanks for the lead Woodman.