Laetiporus sulphureus Sulphur Polypore

Laetiporus sulphureus - Sulphur Polypore, came across this and thought I'd get a couple of shots because its not like the usual shots I get of this great looking polypore.  

It's larger and flatter than usual, meaning it is older.  This was found on a dead log that had fallen at least 5 years ago.

Laetiporus sulphureus - Sulphur Polypore Streatham Common

Sulphur Polypore On Purple Plum

Sulphur Polypore On Purple Plum caused a stem on this Purple Plum to fail.  The remainder of the tree will have to be felled.

I love pictures of this bracket, they always look so rich and velvety.

Laetiporus sulphureus - Sulphur Polypore On Purple Plum

Monochamini Larvae - Wood Borer Larvae

A few pictures of what I think is Monochamini Larvae - Wood Borer Larvae.  This came from the dead wood of Plane tree.  Again I came across this when splitting wood.

Larvae Poking Through Hole

Betula - Birch

Buds and young shoots

Branches

Leaves

Roots and root collar

Trunk

Betula - Birch Bark Of Mature Tree

Birches - 60 species that hybridize freely, light airy crowns and bright bark that peels.  Male catkins are visible through winter months.  Slender shoots and sticky buds

Family:Betulaceae

• Bark:Smooth white with black thin diamond shaped arrows getting wider and rugged with age
• Buds: Curved, Pointed, Brownish black
• Fruit: Cylindrical Catkins
• Leaves: Alternate, Simple
• Habit: Pendulous/Weeping 
• Height: Varies 12 meters - 20 meters. Occasionally higher

Things to look for: 

---

• Colour of bark? How rugged?
• Are shoots Downy?
• Are leaves... dark/glossy?Doubly or regularly toothed?Alternate? Simple?
• Are catkins present?
• Are leaf veins present? Are they parallel? How close?

Betula - Birch Leaves

Betula - Birch Bark Of Young Tree 

A lovely species that has a variety available which can be chosen for most spaces.  Striking bark that gives year round interest makes this species a great choice.

There are European Birch, American Birch and Asiatic Birch.  Subtle differences exist between each, such as texture, color, form, leaf color, shape of leaf and catkins.  All add to the variety of beauty a Betula - Birch brings.

Approximately sixty species of Birch are in existence around the temperate regions of the world the largest numbers are to be found in Asia and the United states, a pioneer species .

Planting Betula - Birch can be quite difficult due to the sheer variety involved.  To break that down you need to forget about the qualities that make this species pleasing to the eye.  Its a simple case of requirements once the site requirements are understood, narrowing down the Betula - Birch you want will be made simpler.

• Space requirements vertically and horizontally
• Distance to property and underground utilities
• Soil type and drainage
• Amount of light or shade required for you and the tree

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Betula - Birch Bark

Betula - Birch Leaves Underside

Betula - Birch Leaves And New Growth

• Leaves
necrosis, complete shriveling of foliage, Deformation, rolling of leaf blades, spots and felting, leaf blade holed or eaten, colonies of green insects on the leaves, leaf blade partially stripped and rolled forming a dry tube, mined leaves, color change
• click to see list of causal agents

• Buds and young shoots
destruction of buds or young shoots, shriveling of young shoots in spring
• click to see list of causal agents

• Branches
death of end of twigs, symptom confined to the bark
• click to see list of causal agents

• Roots and root collar
fruit-bodies colored brown to yellow, white mycellium sheets at base of tree
• click to see list of causal agents

• Trunk
bark cracked, falling off, deterioration, bark lesion, presence of internal gallery
• click to see list of causal agents

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Armillaria - Honey fungus on Chestnut Clapham Common

Armillaria - Honey fungus on Chestnut Clapham Common

Laetiporus sulphureus - Sulphur Polypore On Robinia

Laetiporus sulphureus - Sulphur Polypore On Robinia

Laetiporus sulphureus - Sulphur Polypore On Robinia some photos taken the other day, I have seen this fungus on this particular tree for a couple of seasons now.  Love the close up shots, especially the larger bracket that is around 8m up.  The two smaller brackets are near the base of the trunk.

That's all thanks to my Xacti.

Oak Processionary Moth - Thaumetopoea processionea

The Oak Processionary Moth causes a nuisance where ever it is.

Oak Processionary Moth larvae from Google Images 

Are you ready for the hairy little blighters?

If you have an Oak tree in your garden or have a favorite tree in a local park or green space, it could be at risk from this invasive species.

Millions are spent each year in an effort to lessen the risk........

Fungus Brackets

Various shots of a couple of fungus brackets that I took the other day.

Some are taken of dead wood that's been lying in place for some time.  The last three are from a dead standing Sorbus.

Split Wood At Branch Attachment Showing Decay

Love these photos and images of the inside of wood.  It always surprises me how symmetrical the two halves of split wood can be.  Its never deliberate to "get the wood" to split this way but it must say something about weak points in the wood for it to keep happening.  And my splitting maul.....

Elms In Lambeth

Ulmus minor - English Elm

A few pictures of the Elm trees I know in and around Lambeth, coming soon

Ulmus glabra - Wych Elm

Quercus - Oak Tree Brockwell Park

Quercus robur - Oak Tree Brockwell Park

This has to be one of the oldest trees in Lambeth, a fantastic tree with huge stems on an even bigger trunk.  Definitely worth a look

Quercus robur - Oak Tree Brockwell Park

 Looking Up Stem

Tilia - Lime

• Bark: Smooth gray 
• Buds: shiny, sharp pointed with sticky gum
• Fruit: Nuts husk covered with bristles
• Leaves: Opposite, Palmate

Acer - Maple

Buds and young shoots

Branches

Leaves

Roots and root collar

Trunk

Maple pics will be here soon

Maples - 150 species with leaves in opposite pairs that typically have five lobes, variations occur with leaves of three and seven lobes.

Family:Aceraceae

• Bark: Dark grey, brown to black sometimes reddish when young maturing it becomes ridged or furrowed
• Buds: Varies across species - Terminal, imbricate, glaucous
• Fruit: Samara, wings
• Flowers: mostly yellowish green corymbs
• Leaves: Opposite, lobed
• Habit: Rounded, spreading
• Height:small to 30+metres

Things to look for: 

---

• Bark - What is it like?
• What shape is the crown?
• Are leaves... Shape?Hairy or glaucous underneath? How many lobes?
• Shoots - What color are they? 
• Buds - What color are they?

Betula - Birch Leaves

Betula - Birch Bark Of Young Tree 

A fantastic species no matter the size and variety, great branch structure makes the Acer - Maple architecturally pleasing to the eye.

Various types of lobed leaves with numerous colours add interest where ever they are  .

Approximately one hundred and fifty species of Acer - Maple are in existence around the temperate regions of the world Canada, Europe, Asia, N Africa, United States.

Planting Acer - Maple can be quite difficult due to the sheer variety involved.  To break that down you need to forget about the qualities that make this species pleasing to the eye.  Its a simple case of requirements once the site requirements are understood, narrowing down the Acer - Maple you want will be made simpler.

• Space requirements vertically and horizontally
• Distance to property and underground utilities
• Soil type and drainage
• Amount of light or shade required for you and the tree

Back to top

Betula - Birch Bark

Betula - Birch Leaves Underside

Betula - Birch Leaves And New Growth

• Leaves
necrosis, complete shriveling of foliage, Deformation, Browning around edges, leaf spots, deformation, Insects on underside of leaves, small galls purse shaped reddish color, Defoliation, color change
• click to see list of causal agents

• Buds and young shoots
destruction of buds or young shoots
• click to see list of causal agents

• Branches
death of end of twigs, symptom confined to the bark, confined to branch tip
• click to see list of causal agents

• Roots and root collar
fruit-bodies at base of trunk, white mycellium sheets at base of tree
• click to see list of causal agents

• Trunk
fruit body hoof like appearance, cracked bark, bark falling away, bark stripped
• click to see list of causal agents

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Quercus - Oak

Quercus robur - English Oak

• Bark: Deep Knobbly Ridges, Grayish Black
• Buds: Chestnut To Reddish Brown, plump, scales
• Fruit: Acorn
• Leaves: Alternate, Simple