Unidentified Brown Fungus on a Cherry Tree

[mdavis]

Hey All,

Yesterday I noticed a fungus on my White Cherry tree. The tree itself is actually dead but there are some vines growing on it and we would like to leave it for decorative purposes. We have an apricot tree as well as a pear tree in the garden, and we are wondering if the fungus may pose a threat to those trees or any other plants in the garden. If anyone could help identify it that would be a great help. I have looked on various sites but have not found one that looks just like this one. Given that it seems to have just appeared in the last couple of days I guess it could still change form.

For the record the tree is in southern Ontario and it has been quite damp so far this year. The fungus seems to be growing on parts of the tree that get about two to three hours of direct sunlight a day.

Thanks so much for any feedback. View attachment 302585View attachment 302586

 

[Raintree]

Chocolate tube slime, (Stemonits Gled) not fungi, slime mold.

 

[mdavis]

Thanks very much for your reply. I initially sprayed a little bit of water on one section and a massive cloud of spores came off. After that we decided to try covering it with paper towels and applied a bleach solution. I will give an update in a couple of days when I know the result.

Thanks again for your help.

 

[Raintree]

Thanks very much for your reply. I initially sprayed a little bit of water on one section and a massive cloud of spores came off. After that we decided to try covering it with paper towels and applied a bleach solution. I will give an update in a couple of days when I know the result.

Thanks again for your help.

Why go through all that effort? Are you thinking the mold is pathogenic? Myxomycetes are an important decomposer in the environment, not harmful to your live trees.

 

[mdavis]

Why go through all that effort? Are you thinking the mold is pathogenic? Myxomycetes are an important decomposer in the environment, not harmful to your live trees.

I guess you are probably right. It's just that there is an 8 week old child that sits out in the garden not too far from that tree as it is near our patio. We didn't know if the spores could possibly be bad for him. Probably overkill. If anyone has any well informed opinion on that I'd be very interested in hearing it.

My investigations didn't give me any clear guidance in any direction.

Thanks again.