The name northern tooth, Climacodon septentrionalis, a common trunk decay fungus of urban maples, is a misnomer. The decay fungus is actually widely distributed in North America east of the Rockies and is found as far south as the Gulf states. Maples, especially sugar maple, are the most common hosts, but it is widely reported […]
Just like the seasonal progression of flowering in higher plants, the annual appearance of fruiting (production of mushrooms, conks, brackets and other fruiting structures) of wood-decay fungi is somewhat predictable. When decay fungi appear during the year can be a significant aid to identification. If nothing else, the timing of fruiting can help confirm the […]
Several mushroom species that are known as the Jack O’ Lantern fungus are very common on and around oaks and other species in the late summer and fall (Photos 1 & 2). Knowing this fungus (Photo 3) is important to arborists, as it looks very similar to the well-known, root-killing and decay pathogen Armillaria (Photo […]
Let’s have a frank talk about sex and reproduction in the fungi that cause decay in trees. The details may surprise some people, but the discussion will be, as they say, “safe” for work situations. If you get this first important biological fact about sexual reproduction in decay fungi, the rest of the details will […]
