RHS Directors Online Forum

Re: for the science and learning bods

helpandadvice — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 11:13:13 GMT

Thanks for looking at our Members’ Advisory Service problem profiles:

You are quite right about horsechestnut scale insects – follow this link for details: http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0602/chestnut_scale.asp

The reasons for the increasing severity and aggresiveness of these cankers is unclear – our pest and disease experts have written this short piece: http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0806/horsechestnutproblems.asp

On consuming cankers, I think you might be referring to bracket fungi or to the toadstools found at the base of trees, as the cankers are sunken and would be hard to consume:

http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0901/bracket_fungi.asp

http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles1005/toadstools.asp

Naturally, we think it deeply unsafe to consume psychoactive fungi.

I hope this helps.

Guy Barter
RHS Help and Advice

Re: for the science and learning bods

helpandadvice — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 11:12:39 GMT

Thanks for looking at our Members’ Advisory Service problem profiles:

You are quite right about the chestnut scale insect – follow this link for details: http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0602/chestnut_scale.asp

There is still uncertainty why these cankers have become more common and apparently aggresive – our pest and disease experts have written this short piece to summarise the current situation: http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0806/horsechestnutproblems.asp

On the matter of consuming fungi, I think you might be referring to bracket fungi or to the toadstools found at the base of trees, as the cankers are sunken and would be hard to consume:

http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0901/bracket_fungi.asp
http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles1005/toadstools.asp

Naturally, we think it deeply unsafe to consume psychoactive fungi, or indeed any fungi unless you are confident they are edible.

I hope this helps.

Guy Barter
RHS Help and Advice

Re: for the science and learning bods

Simon Thornton-Wood — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 09:29:30 GMT

I know that the biology of chestnut bleeding canker - a bacterial disease - is not well understood (see the RHS advice page on the subject). The RHS is not currently involved in research related to this particular disease problem, though I understand that Forest Research have an active interest, and we maintain close links to ensure that we are able to pass on the best available information to gardeners about this worrying disease. Together with the leaf miner, this is having a significant impact on a much loved tree.

My specialist colleagues may have more to add...

Simon

Re: for the science and learning bods

Digger — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 23:20:45 GMT

I suppose if the children are still alive they will be okay, have you tried to eat one? I don't think the RHS directors will answer this one maybe they will pass it on to a scientist at Wisley laboratory

for the science and learning bods

decide on one — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 23:18:38 GMT

When I first set up this net connect, three months ago, one of the first links I followed was about canker and chestnut trees. For 15 years now we have had the chestnut scale rampant in our area. As the chestnut scale is a living scale insect I presume it pierces, sucks and eliminates. Now we have cankers in the trees - cankers generally are a result of reaction to damage or toxins. Would the two be connected in any way?

Fifteen years ago, when it first occurred, the schoolkids were flogging them as magic mushrooms, did they do themselves any harm?