Laetiporus sulphureus, also known as the sulphur polypore
This is always a good sight as it provides important habitat for biodiversity; I see it as a keystone species, without any negative impact on the host tree. It decays the dead woody tissues of the heartwood of the host tree, freeing the tree from this dead weight and breaking the wood down into substances that the tree itself can feed on, via aerial roots within the hollowing trunk. So it nourishes the host tree. The decaying heartwood also provides habitat for many invertebrates, including Noble Chafer beetle, while the fruit body (in the photographs) provides habitat for a range of other invertebrates. Overall, this fungus provides habitat for a large number of other species including many which are rare or nationally scarce. It should be a welcome site in any orchard. It mostly uses pear, plum and cherry, but may occasionally be found with apple trees (as here).
Keith Alexander
Dr. Keith Alexander, orchard and veteran tree invertebrate expert and county beetle recorder. The Peoples Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) is the lead group in England organising orchard surveys and Keith is the lead surveyor for PTES in Gloucestershire. He is also one of the Hon Directors of the Ancient Tree Forum (ATF) and represents the ATF on the Traditional Orchards Habitat Action Plan working group. As a consultant, he worked on a scoping study of the wildlife conservation values of traditional orchards as part of a national English Nature initiative. Contact: keith.alexander@waitrose.com 01392 413092.
Location of this sample of Chicken-of-the-Woods is an apple tree at Dave Kaspar and Helen’s Brent-Smith’s mature orchard at Days Cottage, Brookthorpe (GOG Orchard & Rural Skills Centre) www.dayscottage.co.uk May 2010 (Ann Smith).
