Hazard Tree Inspection – A Practitioner’s Guide.

Fungi Recap 1) Ganoderma species

Part of tree Colonisation Rot type normally Notes strategy colonised Selective Heartwood Lower bole Other than G. lucidum they all white but can be produce perennial brackets. Look out found higher for G. valesciacum on conifers. Can and does eventually lead to stem and/or root extend into failure. roots Ganoderma valesciacum 2) fomentarius

Part of tree Colonisation Rot type normally Notes strategy colonised Simultaneous Sapwood Upper trunk Very common and can be confused white exposed and larger with Ganoderma spp. But Fomes has a limbs fawn pore surface and white spores. Often a prelude to stem fracture. 3) Armillaria species

Part of tree Colonisation Rot type normally Notes strategy colonised (wet) Xylem Roots and butt At least five species in the UK. Only A. White dysfunction mellea, A. ostoyae are markedly pathogenic. Be wary, it is often the least pathogenic species that produce the most rhizomorphs. 4) Inonotus hispidus

Part of tree Colonisation Rot type normally Notes strategy colonised Simultaneous Sapwood Upper trunk Fairly commonly found on Ash, white exposed and larger Walnut, Plane and Apple. A non- limbs perennial bracket. Failure may be imminent and wood products weakened. 5) deusta

Part of tree Colonisation Rot type normally Notes strategy colonised Soft Heartwood Roots and Very common on a wide range of lower bole broadleaved trees. Strongly associated (but can with wind-throw and stem breakage. develop An ascomycete with two distinct anywhere) growth stages. 6) Heterobasidion annosum

Part of tree Colonisation Rot type normally Notes strategy colonised Selective Xylem Roots and Common in second rotation (or white dysfunction butt thinned) conifer plantations where rainfall is low. Urea is used to favour Trichoderma fungi on stumps. PG suspension is a more effective control. 7) Laetiporus sulphureus

Part of tree Colonisation Rot type normally Notes strategy colonised Brown Heartwood Anywhere Non perennial bracket associated with where brittle fractures. Found on , Sweet heartwood Chestnut, Gean, Cedar & Yew. Now can be found thought to be more than one species. 8) Meripilus giganteus

Part of tree Colonisation Rot type normally Notes strategy colonised Soft - White Heartwood Root-plate Tends to decay roots from underside and so hard to detect. Canopy may not show signs of retrenchment until late stages of decay. Associated with wind-throw of broadleaves. 9) Fomitopsis betulina (syn Piptoporus betulinus)

Part of tree Colonisation Rot type normally Notes strategy colonised Brown Latent Upper trunk specific (Betula). Brittle and larger fractures on Birch in decline. limbs 10) squamosus (syn Polyporus squamosus)

Part of tree Colonisation Rot type normally Notes strategy colonised Simultaneous Sapwood Upper trunk Non perennial brackets found on white exposed and larger various broadleaved hosts. Associated limbs with cavity formation and stem breakage.