Replies

1. 
   BruceS | Oct 07, 2008 03:01am | #1

   Charcoal or Fungus??

   Work Safe,  Count to 10 when your done for the day !!

   Bruce S. 

    

1. 
   Disputantum | Oct 07, 2008 03:37am | #2

   Fungus didn't cross my mind since the stuff is dry. I'll take a closer look tomorrow.

1. 
   WillGeorge | Oct 07, 2008 03:44am | #3

   I agree with fungus.. Lightning usually blows the bark off (I think) No expert.

1. 
   Disputantum | Oct 07, 2008 07:43pm | #4

   It must be fungus. It's soft instead of crusty.

2. 
   KeithNewton | Oct 07, 2008 08:01pm | #5

   If it was just under the bark, would mean that whatever you are looking at would have gotten there this year, if it was still growing before it fell. If it was from a fire 20 years ago, it would be 20 rings in from the bark.

   Lightning usually travels down the outside of the tree, which turns the sap just under the bark to steam, which blast the bark off in strips from where it hit the tree on top, down to the ground.

   As much of this that i have seen, I have not seen anything like charcoal.

1. 
   Disputantum | Oct 13, 2008 06:39am | #6

   Thanks for the info. My neighbor said that the tree was felled by lightning, and I wondered if this was evidence of it, but apparently not.