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Honey Fungus?

David ThorntonDavid Thornton Posts: 30
in Problem solving
Good morning everyone,  please see the attached photos of some Funghi sprouting up. They lead a meandering path back towards a tree which has died. I haven't looked for evidence of the 'bootlace' mycelium in the earth. The bark at the base of the trunk of the tree is cracked and split though......Any ideas?
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  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 86,887
    Please can we see pics of the underneath and the stipe or ‘stem’. 
    😊 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • David ThorntonDavid Thornton Posts: 30
    Hello DFA, thank you for your prompt reply. I will try do that at the weekend. This is in a friend's back garden and i cannot gain access until tomorrow.
    Do you think I should try to see if there's any evidence behind the bark of the tree as well?
  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,238
    Take off a bit of the bark at (or, better still, just below) ground level and see if there is a thin sheet of white fungus under the bark. If there is (and it smells strongly of mushrooms) that may well be honey fungus.

    The white mycelium is one of the major indicators of HF. Fruiting bodies (toadstools) do not always appear so the ones which have appeared may - or may not - be the fruiting bodies of HF. However, if they are, they are fairly distinctive. They can be positively identified as HF by the appearance of the stem and underneath (that's why Dove has asked for a pic).

    Before you go to take pics - do some Googling of signs of HF so you know what you're looking for.
    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • David ThorntonDavid Thornton Posts: 30
    Thank you Topbird 
  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,575
    Having just had honey fungus diagnosed myself, I have rapidly learned quite a lot about the disease. I would say that it is honey fungus, sorry.

    Some experts say the toadstools smell of honey. Mine didn’t. Everyone says that the mycelium smells strongly of mushrooms but despite a long and very close sniff, I could not detect it. Black bootlace-like roots or rhizomorphs are another indicator.

    I just hope that it will be easier to dig out the infection source in your friend’s garden than it is in mine. Mine requires diggers and retaining walls - over £3000, ouch!
    Rutland, England
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    Oh, Ben, that's a bit much. Are you sure it is necessary, let alone possible? Honey fungus is very wide spread, even when you can't see any external evidence, so digging it out is questionable, I believe. I have it in my garden and it is true that very old or poor trees suffer but the garden functions perfectly well and I have a variety of trees, shrubs and perennials. See what the experts on here suggest before you spend that sort of money.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 11,957
    edited November 2019
    @BenCotto I agree with Posy. I don't think you will get rid of it and personally I think it's a crazy waste of money to even try. You could buy loads of new plants that are not susceptible to HF instead.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • David ThorntonDavid Thornton Posts: 30
    Hi everyone,  this is a helpful discussion, thank you.
    Here's some more photo's that Dove asked for (the stipe/stem of the suspect in the dock.....no pun intended!)

    David
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 86,887
    This may be of help 

    http://www.fungusfactfriday.com/198-armillaria-tabescens/

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • jocle140jocle140 Posts: 1
    There's a guy on ebay selling Cyproconazole. It apparently has an effect on keeping honey fungus at bay. 

    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/283951984882
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