Is this friendly or not

[peterb]

Hi everyone , I have this growing on my olive , is it something to be concerned about
peterb

[Matthew]

not sure mate but nice base!!!! i think shibui might chime in he is pretty clued up with all things pest and disease wise . i believe some fungi maybe beneficial but others are not .

[Kevin]

Hello Peter,

Bracket Fungi - Google it - not good. Here is an extract from:

http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamen ... fungus.htm

"Tree bracket fungus is a disease of the tree’s heartwood. As stated before, the shelves are the fruiting bodies and by the time they appear, there is usually a significant amount of interior damage. The fungi that cause bracket fungus — and there are many — attack the hardwood interior, and therefore, the structural integrity of the tree and are the cause of white or brown rot."

Do your own research, but definitely bracket fungi.

If it were a big tree in an open environment - the tree loppers would be long gone with only sawdust remaining.

But i have read you do a bit of grinding from time to time. Start a rescue plan Peter, the sooner the better as they say each ring (like trees) represents a year's growth.

Soon to be - 'The Twin Hollows"

A new adventure,
Kevin

[shibui]

Just what I was going to say Kevin.
As far as I know all the bracket fungi affect the heart wood of the tree so this is definitely one to beware of. The tree will often survive but with a hollow trunk. You can see lots of old trees in the bush with hollow trunks and still very much alive.

I would be using some sort of systemic fungicide to try to kill it off rather than just hope.

[peterb]

Thanks guys, a bit more serious than I expected. Guess it's time to get the carving tools out. Shibui what systemic fugitive would you suggest and where would i get it here's hoping as I really like this tree
Peterb

[shibui]

I've just checked online and the advice is not promising - bracket fungi cannot be cured seems to be the general advice. I suppose that's because the fungi is in the heartwood where tree fluids do not circulate so even systemics cannot reach the infection.
I'd still try a systemic which may or may not help given the advice above but can't offer any brands or types, sorry.

[Kevin]

Hello Peter,

Very interested in your approach / response in handling the fungal issues.
Quite a significant specimen, surely you wouldn't have discarded such an old specimen as there was still a lot of potential / enhancement left to the tree.
Very curious and photos would be nice too.

Thanks
Kevin

[Jdceng]

Hi Peter

As you say carve it out & hit it with lime sulfur might be the way to go?

JC

[Joel]

It looks like a Trametes species.

[peterb]

Hi Kevin
I have carved a bit but the more I carve the more I find, it"s started sprouting out of some old hollows further up the trunk now , so am rather worried . Will this kill my tree if I don"t get all of it
peterb

[Kevin]

Hello Peter,

As Shibui has mentioned many trees in nature are completely hollowed and continue to survive in our harsh lands superbly, also i have seen in other Bonsai, of late Bodhidharma's Elm and Alnus growing superbly as well as a few of Alpineart's.
But essentially the fungi attack the heartwood, and while your trees have heartwood, being the dead centre of the tree the fungi will continue to survive and even worse have their spores germinate in other plants.
My best advice is to quarantine this tree and persistently grind out the entire heartwood or at least all infected areas.

Others may be able to offer better advice, but mine is to keep grinding until all fungi is completely removed.

Joel mentions above a specific species, i would definitely be researching that species.

As i said a completely new adventure.

Good luck Peter and keep us updated please as this is a fine plant you have,

Kevin