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Strange fungus
Linda 21
Posts: 34
We have a fungus growing at the base of a huge Monteray Pine tree (it has a girth of about 15') Does any one know what it is and should I be worried, please?
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I would worry as fungii feed on dead or dying wood. You don't see them on healthy trees
In the sticks near Peterborough
That's is what concerns me. The fungus appeared last year and then disappeared over the winter. I have to admit to knocking it off the tree, but I doubt if that will stop it re-appearing. The tree has sent roots out which have wrecked our septic tank, whichis now going to have to be replaced. My concern is that if the tree is already under thret by the fungus, then any excavations we do round its roots, will seriously undermine its safety.
You can just make out the fungus in the fissure at the base of the tree. It's not a very good photo!
I agree and would get a tree surgeon in to give an opinion. As nut says, the tree is certain to have started rotting inside for the fungus to appear and with that huge side branch making it look rather unbalanced, it may get into a dangerous state and come down one day in strong winds.
Yes in fact the photo does not show the whole picture, because in fact most of the branches are on one side, and the tree leans over a Victorian electric tram line! We have always been concerned about the tree falling over and causing damage to the tune of a small country's national debt! Worse still is that there is a septic tank about three feet from the base of the tree and the roots have got into the tank, so that has to be replaced. We now have to have a new sewage treatment system. Hence my concern over the tree and the fungus. If the fungus is already bad news and we effectively cut off the trees current water supply (!) as well as perhaps having to sever some roots in an effort to site the new sewage system, we want to make sure the tree does not keel over!
Whatever it is it looks nasty and judging by the trouble the tree has caused you with the septic tank and the possibility of it keeling over; I hate to say this but I would be inclined to remove it completely. It's never a good idea to have tree roots and sewage/water pipes near each other (we may have a similar problem with a Hawthorne). Apart from the fungus it looks a really nice tree too.
To go onto a slightly different subject I have a Camellia plant in a large pot on a west facing wall which has suddenly developed brown patches on the leaves. They have appeared within the last couple of days and seem to be spreading rapidly. The plant had flowered and put on a lot of new growth and was looking very healthy until this happened. The patches start at the central leaf rib and spread out to the edge of the leaf from there. Sorry I can't provide photo but has anybody any ideas what it is?
You'll get more suggestions if you start a new thread for that Elizabeth
That tree needs to go Linda
In the sticks near Peterborough
I agree with Nut - to everything there is a season ... etc etc etc
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
It could be Laetiporus sulphureus, although it does not look right to me, it usually starts out bright orange and then fades to yellow, and finally white. It does occur at this time of year, alhough it prefers deciduous trees. I have seen it on Yew. It has been reported on Pine. It reminds me more of Phaeolus schweinitzii, which is autumnal, and does occur on Pine.
Too late I know, but such trees should not be planted near a septic tank. Fortunately for me mine is disused.
Thank you all for your comments. Either of the two fungi mentioned look bad news to me! I have read somewhere that the Monteray Pine lives on average between 80 and 90 years, and this tree would appear to be much older than that. It is HUGE. Whoever thought to put the septic tank so close must have been mad, but it definitely wasn't us. The photo was taken after the fungus had been there some time. To start with it was a much brighter yellow, almost a golden orange colour. I will let you know what happens. Don't like taking trees down, but it may be better to take it down in a controlled fashion rather than let it fall down. We live on the Isle of Man and we would need a licence to fell it, so it will depend on the man from the forrestry. Thank you all again for your advice.