Another Fungus id please....

This is growing on my ornamental plum tree,never seen anything growing on it before....

 

Hi Sweetcakes,

Could be a Grey Fire Bracket, Phellinus Ignarius. Apart from that, don't have a clue

 

Wow Zigs thanks,just googled it ..by jove i think you've got it...the info is a bit too high brow for mebut one bit i did understand was ...the North Americans burn it and mix the ash with tobacco said to give it a "kick"....best not try it though eh

 

Well done Zigs - I googled like lolimac, it certainly looks like it.

 

Just a wild stab in the dark i thought the Ignarius bit would be someting to do with using it as tinder (like the Tinder Hoof fungus) didn't thing about smoking it????

 

One of these days i'll remember to google things

 

..
Thing is i need the answer first to know what i'm Googleing

 

Hi lolimac,

Sorry for the late reply, but in addition to Zigs' reply I think you should also consider it to be a Ganoderma bracket. Either way, both Ganoderma and Phellinus cause a white rot delignification, meaning the tree loses what makes it rigid and stiff, leaving it prone to mechanical failure. Keep an eye on your tree and, if in doubt, get a qualified tree surgeon / consultant in to take a look.