Fruiting Bodies on Locust

[Katz]

I found these fruiting bodies on a locust tree, and I don't know this fungus. Can anyone ID it for me, and more importantly tell me it's effects, from a structural/tree safety standpoint? (root rot?)

Plenty of targets around this one.



Thanks

 

[oldoakman]

Inonotus dryadeus, a root rot. If there are significant targets, probably best to remove the tree. Spend $30 and get Dr. Luley's Wood Decay Fungi book. A good starting point

 

[KTSmith]

This is where ID from a couple of single-angle photos is tough. With all due respect to OOM, I suggest also checking out Ganoderma lucidum. I suggests that only if my eyes are right and I see that the upper side of the bracket is red and looks varnished and shiny.

If the young pore surface has little droplets or "tears", then I'd go with I. dryadeus.
Probably doesn't make much difference with respect to management.
I know folks hate it when I say it, but differentiating these two takes about 15 seconds with a microscope and spore prints, you don't even need to cut a section!

 

[oldoakman]

I was also thinking Ganoderma KT, but the cream colored top surface in the one photo made me think Inonotus. That said, I will always graciouslyefer to your judgement in these matters.

 

[KTSmith]

Aha, but I betcha that cream colored surface is the fertile surface, which usually is the underside...except when it's not! With both G. lucidum and G. tsugae on hemlock, the fruiting body can be pretty appressed to the tree and the spore-bearing surface rolls around to the top! The same tree (although not in this photo) can have both the stipitate (stalked) "usual" form of fruiting body as well as the more resupinate form.
Quite different from G. applanatum (the "artist's conk) which always seems bracket-like and sessile (without a stipe or stalk)! Like I say, the red varnishy look got me going on Ganoderma.
Of course, the folks who ID for a living in research roll their eyes at even the idea of ID from snapshots!

 

[Katz]

Thanks both of you. I will certainly invest in the suggested book (never too many books ...)

Sorry about the poor photos. I usually try to take multiple angles, but didn't on this one.

I have done a quick google on both suggestions, as well as a second visit to the tree, and I do believe it is G. lucidum. With a bit of time it is looking more like the "classic" photos shown for that spp.

As mentioned, there are significant targets, so the tree will be down shortly.

 

[guymayor]

Yes that shiny red is a dead giveaway; G. lucidum.

As mentioned, there are significant targets, so the tree will be down shortly.

This shortcut in assessment is unfortunate. Lots of options to reduce load, replace soil, displace fungus. Luley's good for starters, but Schwarze looked deeper: "In many cases, the decay can be classed as 'harmless...'"

This highlights the misguidance from the target-focus of TRAQ: Every tree has a target--itself! Tree with G lucidum retained in the attached, with house, driveway...

 

[Katz]

Thank you for the additional information, Guy, I do appreciate it. More information is always better.
I will, however, respectfully stand by my decision to remove the tree. I will put forward that it was not a shortcut in assessment, merely a shortcut in the description of the full scenario in the interest of brevity and asking a concise question.

 

[guymayor]

It's all in the assignment; narrow it down enough and any chosen conclusion can be the result.

In the end it depends on the objective. Locust is good firewood. What did the stump look like, 80% decayed/decaying/discolored/discombobulated?? 50%?