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Black lumps on sycamore tree- help please!

doofladoofla Posts: 4
in Problem solving
Hello

My sycamore tree has just been pollarded and I noticed that it has several large black lumps on the top of its trunk. I have attached a picture. Does anyone know what these are? Should I be worried?

many thanks for any help!
Jane

Posts

  • doofladoofla Posts: 4

  • pansyfacepansyface PEAK DISTRICT DerbyshirePosts: 14,430
    A fungus, known as King Alfred’s Cakes or Cramp Balls or, if you like Latin, Daldinia  concentrica.

    They make excellent fire starters if you need to light a fire.

    Not such hot news for your tree though.
    Apophthegm -  a big word for a small thought.
  • doofladoofla Posts: 4
    Thank you pansyface, that is very helpful and you even managed to make me laugh while delivering unwelcome news😂.  My googling suggests it appears on dead or decaying wood....and there I was thinking my tree was finally recovering after a few years of looking rather sad.

    I will wait to see whether it springs to life in spring, after it’s unintentional pollarding.
  • doofladoofla Posts: 4
    Its not it’s! Stupid autocorrect 
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