[CANUFNET] White Blotches on Maples solved

Tue Jan 8 17:41:52 EST 2013

I've seen this stuff on trees for years and always presumed it was
lichen-related, either a pre-lichenized fungus or a post-lichen blemish.

For all things lichen, I usually refer to this tome:
http://www.amazon.ca/Lichens-North-America-Irwin-Brodo/dp/0300082495

Ontario's NHIC website has a decent lichen species list for Ontario, but
their new interface stupidly only works with the IE browser. Also, before
Comrade Harper killed it, Environment Canada's EMAN program had a lichen
monitoring protocol that may be of interest in light of Philip's reminder
that they can serve as indicator species of air quality.

Oliver K. Reichl, B.E.S.(Hons)
Consulting Arborist-Ecologist
ISA Certified Arborist #ON-1178A
Tel: 613-923-8833
Web: www.oliverkilian.com/treecare

On Tue, Jan 8, 2013 at 12:52 PM, Philip van Wassenaer <
pwassenaer1022 at rogers.com> wrote:

> I have also been tracking these fungi on Norway maple for many years after
> discovering what they were…they too eventually develop to lichens if the
> air quality is good enough.****
>
> ** **
>
> So if you see this you know that at least the air quality is good enough
> for lichens to grow…never seen this on a very urban tree.****
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> *Philip van Wassenaer, B.SC., MFC*
>
> 1248 Minnewaska Trail****
>
> Mississauga, Ontario****
>
> Canada, L5G 3S5****
>
> Tel:  (905) 274-1022****
>
> Cell: (647) 221-3046****
>
> Fax: (905) 274-2170****
>
> [image: UFI new logo very small]****
>
> ** **
>
> www.urbanforestinnovations.com****
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* canufnet-bounces at list.web.net [mailto:
> canufnet-bounces at list.web.net] *On Behalf Of *Gail Rankin
> *Sent:* January-08-13 12:19 PM
> *To:* Canadian Urban Forest Network
> *Subject:* Re: [CANUFNET] White Blotches on Maples solved****
>
> ** **
>
> I agree with the findings.  I have noticed these whitish patches on old
> lilac stems and have followed them for years.  They do eventually develop
> into lichen growth.****
>
> ** **
>
> Gail Rankin, B. Sc.****
>
> Rankin Horticulture Consulting Inc****
>
> Edmonton, AB****
>
> On Jan 8, 2013, at 7:19 AM, Shields, Peter wrote:****
>
>
>
> ****
>
> I saw that article which confirmed what Mark and James wrote. Good stuff.*
> ***
>
> Thanks****
>
> Peter Shields****
>
> Consulting Arborist****
>
> Davey Resource Group****
>
>
> On 2013-01-08, at 9:17 AM, "Brian Geerts" <GeertsB at cambridge.ca> wrote:***
> *
>
> We have had a number of inquiries about this in our area as well.  There’s
> also a write-up in the Orillia Packet here:****
>
>  ****
>
> http://www.orilliapacket.com/2012/04/30/local-science-and-nature****
>
>  ****
>
> Brian Geerts****
>
> Manager of Forestry****
>
> City of Cambridge****
>
> Dickson Centre****
>
> 30 Parkhill Road W. ON N1R 5W8****
>
>  ****
>
> geertsb at cambridge.ca****
>
>  ****
>
> Tel:519.740.4681 x4558****
>
> Fax: 519.624.6975****
>
>  ****
>
>  ****
> ------------------------------
>
> *From:* canufnet-bounces at list.web.net [
> mailto:canufnet-bounces at list.web.net <canufnet-bounces at list.web.net>] *On
> Behalf Of *Shields, Peter
> *Sent:* Sunday, January 06, 2013 3:56 PM
> *To:* Canadian Urban Forest Network (canufnet at list.web.net)
> *Subject:* [CANUFNET] White Blotches on Maples solved****
>
>  ****
>
> With many responses to the original post, I believe this one form M.
> Burleton and J. Brown at NCC in Ottawa have solved the problem.  Thanks
> Mark and James! I have quoted their response with their permission below.
>  Perhaps a submission to Detective Dendro one year!****
>
>  ****
>
> “*The best case scenario I have so far is the un-lichenized fungus Julella
> fallaciosa or white stain fungus. This isn't a algae partnership to make
> it a true lichen. It is a crust (crustose), type of structure this why you
> didn't find filament edges or scaly edges, you can find in other tree
> inhabiting species. *****
>
> * *****
>
> *As you know lichens are composite organisms consisting of a symbiotic
> association of a fungus and a green algae living together. Lichens do not
> generally harm the tree or other living matter that they a growing on-they
> obtain their mineral nutrients from the air. *****
>
> * *****
>
> *In some cases of the filmentose types may create heavier branches and in
> a storm and could be more likely to fail because the extra weight. Growth
> can seem to be stunted by heavy amounts of these lichen, but it is usually
> on weaker or slower growing trees. I have seen this happen on the west
> coast and in Scotland.*****
>
> *    *****
>
> *White stain fungus, is a "nearly" lichen, and many fungi apparently,
> have acquired this mode of life. *****
>
> * *****
>
> *I looked to see if fungi or lichens in my many reference books,
> searching though a few internet sites and it came out to same type of
> lichen like fungus.   *****
>
> * *****
>
> *This could be the first part of the association of a lichen with the
> white stain fungus growing on the maple and looking for an algae associate.
> *****
>
> * *****
>
> *In most cases the white patches are just the white stain fungus looking
> to become a lichen and although unsightly, I don't believe it harm or kill
> maples. In my woodlot at home, it is present on my young and mature sugar
> and black maples. I haven't  seen any detrimental effects to them in 16yrs.”
> * ****
>
>  ****
>
> Peter Shields ****
>
> Senior Consulting Arborist****
>
> ISA BCMA ON-0570B, ISA PNW CTRA #1590, OMNR BHA #252, ASCA member****
>
> (905) 274-8300****
>
> <image001.jpg>****
>
>  ****
>
> ** **
> ------------------------------
>
> This communication is confidential and may contain information protected
> by Privacy
> legislation. Unauthorized use is strictly prohibited. If you are not the
> intended
> recipient or have received this communication in error, please notify the
> sender
> immediately by telephone. ****
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> Gail Rankin****
>
> Rankin Horticulture Consulting Inc.****
>
> ranking at shaw.ca
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://list.web.net/pipermail/canufnet/attachments/20130108/247072bf/attachment-0001.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 3340 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://list.web.net/pipermail/canufnet/attachments/20130108/247072bf/attachment-0001.jpeg>