U of M Gardening Information: What's wrong with my plant?

Basswood/Linden > Trunk/Branches > Fungi on trunk or branches

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Leaves are smaller in size and turn yellow earlier than normal
Canopy appears thin with few leaves and multiple dead branches
Fungal conks, a semicircle shelf fungi, can be found from the base of the tree up to 3 feet high on the trunk
Conks are reddish brown and shiny on top, white and porous underneath, a rim of white may be visible on the edge of growing conks
Infected wood at the base of the tree is white, soft, stringy or spongy
Infected trees frequently break or fall over in storms
More information on Ganoderma root and butt rot...

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Credit: J. O'Brien, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
Credit: M. Grabowski, University Of Minnesota
Credit: USDA Forest Service - North Central Research Station Archive, Bugwood.org
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Fungal fruiting bodies arise along the stem; often near a pruning wound, crack or other wound
Many colors, shapes and sizes of fungal fruiting bodies may be seen
The canopy may show no symptoms or may have small yellowing leaves or dead branches depending on the extent of the trunk decay
In cross section of the trunk, the wood at the center is discolored, soft, crumbling, stringy or spongy
More information on Heart rot...

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Schizophyllum shelf fungi are white and appear fuzzy on top
Cerrena shelf fungi are white to greenish grey and have concentric rings on the surface
Dead branches within the canopy
Groups or rows of small (<2 inches wide) semi-circle self fungi along killed branches or on the main trunk
Common on trees with an open wound or crack
Wood below fungal shelves is yellowish to white, crumbly and decayed; bark around fungal shelves is killed and often falls off