365 Urban Species. #026: Coral Spot

[urbpan]

Urban Species #026: Coral Spot Nectria cinnabarina

Coral spot is a fungus that produces colorful spore-producing lesions in the bark of trees, especially thin-barked trees like beech. It also may attack other urban trees including honey locust, mulberry, apple, and maple. Most often it attacks trees that are already weakened or dead. Coral spot adds a welcome splash of color to the gray winter landscape of the urban forest.

Comments

[drocera.livejournal.com]

Hey - just wondering...do you need any pictures of Sumac...because I took a few out back a bit ago. Not as good as the pictures you usually post, but it's definately an urban species.

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

You rule.

I'll let you know. My own mysterious (to me) guidelines for this project seem to dictate that my wife or I take a picture within a couple weeks of the post. When I do sumac (and I will--you're right, it's definitely urban) I'll let you know, and I'll include your picture along with the one cottonmanifesto or I will have produced.

Sumac looks best (around here) in fall, when it becomes a flamingo tree. I'll probably post it when it starts growing leaves--although right now it's very distinct, with its persistant fruits.

[(Anonymous)]

Afternoon,
I have a nasty coral spot infection on my maple in my yard. Already amputated a limb. The other limb has come out beautifully in leaf, but is already dying back, much like the other branch did last year. Do you know anyway to cure red spot?
Thanks

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

Don't know of any cure. Just took a look on google and came up with this:

Management: The fungus is not generally considered to be an important pathogen, and disease control is seldom warranted. The fungus infects through wounds; as with many secondary pathogens, care should be taken to reduce the incidence of wounding. Trees are also more susceptible to this disease when vigor is reduced; supplemental watering and fertilizing are recommended for urban ornamentals under stress. Pruning in spring also increases risk of infection; fall pruning is recommended where the disease is a problem. Removal of branches with fruiting bodies is also recommended.

Looking around some more I find that arborists agree that fungicide is not effective against it. It seems as though you are doing what you can, but that the coral spot may be infecting limbs that are already weakened. Your tree may be sick from some other cause. Hope this helps!