Hoof Fungus (Fomes fomentarius)

Fomes-Fomentarius 

Common host(s)                   Beech, poplar, sycamore and other broadleaved trees. It is very common in birch in northern parts of Britain.

Colonisation strategy           Gains entry through broken branches or stem injuries

Symptoms                            The fruiting body is a perennial bracket that appears ‘hoof-like’ after a few years growth. The bracket is initially brownish but fades to dark grey. The upper surface is hard and ‘crusted’, with concentric rings (possibly of different colours and shades). White spores are released in mid summer.

Type of rot                           Simultaneous white rot

Part(s) of tree affected         Branches, stems

Significance                           It causes brittle fracture, usually in the upper stem near the bracket.

 

 

All photographs are reproduced by kind permission of the Arboricultural Information Exchange