Sterile conk trunk rot fungus ( Inonotus obliquus ) , also get laid as ledge fungi or bracket kingdom Fungi , come about predominately on birch tree trees but can all affect other tree species – alder , beech and hickory . The fungus make large , blackened growths on the tree trunk of the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that appraise up to 12 inches in diameter and grow up to 60 inches in length . The conks produce no actual generative spores , unlike other fungal conks . The fungi does considerable damage to the tree and will eventually shoot down it .

History

Native endemic kin once used the conk on birch trees , roll in the hay as chaga , to make medicinal gunpowder and teas , which were considered curative . Today , the conk are wide harvested in Siberia because Russia and Japan both use the fungus in the manufacture of anti - cancer drugs that are wide market , concord to the Alaska Department of Natural Resources . The conks , already relatively rarefied , may become even rare as collectors over - harvesting , cutting the conk from tree using chainsaw to expedite the harvest .

Appearance

The external area of the conk appears black . Cut enter the conk has a spongy , orangish - yellow appearance with region of clean coloration . The area of the tree trunk that get from the fungus often becomes swollen beneath the conk and pop outwards . The area around the conk begins to crack and attract aside from the tree .

Damage

The fungus infest the tree through wound , low offshoot areas on the trunk or old cankers . Once inside the tree scathe becomes broad . By the metre a conk explicate on the side of the tree at least 50 to 100 per centum of the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree ’s heartwood has already become septic with the fungus , according to the Natural Resources Canada . As the wood of the tree becomes damp the tree poses a considerable danger because it may devolve at any prison term .

Reproduction

Once the tree fall and dies the kingdom Fungi continues to thrive . It quick invades the decaying wood . The barque of the tree diagram begins to break away and rot , which unwrap the spore - farm area of the fungus . The actual fruiting trunk of the fungi is break under the bark . It appears as grayish , leaden centre ontogeny that measure roughly 3 millimetre in thickness . Once the fruit body is revealed the fungus begins to develop generative spores , which are convey by the lead , rain and wildlife to other birch trees in the expanse .

Prevention/Solution

landscape painting birch rod Tree require to be regularly maintain through proper watering and fertilizing . obviate damaging the tree through culture or over - pruning . Once a birch rod Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree becomes infect with uninspired conk trunk buncombe fungus there is no cure . The tree will take to be get rid of , the wood saw up and destroyed . The conk can be glean for cut-rate sale or donated to medical scientific discipline .

References

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