UK Fungi

Jelly like fungus on conifer

Forums › Forums › Fungi ID requests (post here if you aren’t sure what type of fungus you’ve found) › Jelly like fungus on conifer

  • This topic is empty.
Viewing 8 posts - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • October 9, 2019 at 2:02 pm #31408
    Deborah

      Hello. This fungus appears regularly (at least once a year) on a conifer (not sure which – perhaps Chamaecyparis) in a London garden. It seems to be triggered by heavy rain and the branch that it forms on appears swollen. After fruiting the fungus dries and falls off and apparently the branch looks ‘scaly’. The tree seems to be dying very slowly – it’s been a mature specimen for about 30 years, and still hanging on. Any help with identification would be much appreciated. Sorry for the poor quality photo.

      October 9, 2019 at 5:30 pm #42341
      Chris Yeates

        Hello Deborah

        it’s a bit difficult to see exactly what is going on but from what I can see and your very useful observation “It seems to be triggered by heavy rain” I think this could well be Tremella foliacea. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tremella_foliacea” class=”bbcode_url”>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tremella_foliacea for further information. If it is this then it will be growing on another fungus of the genus Stereum (S. sanguinolentum is the usual one on conifers) – shots of the branches when the Tremella has apparently disappeared, in dry conditions, might be useful.

        HTH

        Chris

        October 9, 2019 at 5:52 pm #42342
        Deborah

          Thanks for your help. Hopefully will post another photo of branch tomorrow.

          October 9, 2019 at 6:49 pm #42343
          eltio
          Participant

            Would Gymnosporangium be a possibility?

            October 9, 2019 at 7:18 pm #42344
            Chris Yeates

              eltio wrote:


              Would Gymnosporangium be a possibility?


              That is a very good suggestion, more than just a possibility. It would certainly make sense of the fungus’s appearance in several spots like this, and its being on living branches. Deborah’s further photographs will hopefully sort it.

              October 10, 2019 at 8:42 am #42345
              Deborah

                Hi. Here’s a couple of photos of a branch after the fruited fungus has dropped off, showing the ‘scaliness’/ raised bark and the swelling of the wood. Hope this gives further information. Thanks.

                October 10, 2019 at 8:56 pm #42346
                Chris Yeates

                  Yes I’m sure this is a Gymnosporangium and your conifer should therefore be savin, Juniperus sabina (see https://www.conifers.org/cu/Juniperus_sabina.php” class=”bbcode_url”>https://www.conifers.org/cu/Juniperus_sabina.php).

                  There are two Gymnosporangium species on J. sabina in the UK: G. confusum and G. sabinae. I would expect the latter one which is increasingly spreading on the alternate host, pear. Check out any pear trees in your area, Deborah, and they will quite possibly have rather colourful patches on the leaves as here:

                  Gymnosporangium sabinae 0a.jpg

                  [attachment=0]Gymnosporangium sabinae 0a.jpg[/attachment]

                  Best wishes

                  Chris

                  October 11, 2019 at 7:14 am #42347
                  Deborah

                    Many thanks. And, yes, until relatively recently there was a pear tree (now dead), within 25 yards of the conifer which did have the bright markings on the leaves. Fascinating stuff.

                  • Author
                    Posts
                  Viewing 8 posts - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)
                  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.