Oak smooth patch

You can read the current version of the post here. If you are more than a casual observer of trees you have probably learned that oak trees often have smooth patches in their normally rough bark. What you may not know is that these smooth patches are caused by the fungus Aleurodiscus oakesii.

However, it does result in patches of bark that are more smooth than usual. The fungus produces tiny mushrooms that are mostly flat against the bark and usually less than a centimeter across in any direction. The mushrooms are a light brown on the top and a powdery white underneath. The edges of the mushrooms are often upturned, making the underside visible. The mushrooms can often be found around the edges of the smooth patches. However, its species name, oakesii , is the truly clever part of the name.

It is actually a pun on the name of the man who collected the first recorded specimen of the fungus: William Oakes. Tags: basidio crust disease mushroom tree. Symptoms are often noticed when looking for reasons why a white oak tree is declining in the landscape.

Symptoms and Causes of Smooth Patch The main symptom is sunken white-colored areas on trunk bark. Exfoliation of the bark results in smooth, grayish patches adjacent to the normally rough bark.

It is caused by a superficial colonizing fungus, Aleurodiscus oakesii. Since the fungus invades only the nonliving, outer bark tissues, this colonization is not harmful to the tree and has no long-term affects on tree health. University of Illinois Extension. University of Illinois Extension Hort Answers. Fungal Disease Smooth Patch Several fungal genera 7 pictures total.

Smooth patch on oak. Smooth patch is sometimes called bark patch or white patch. At least three saprophytic fungi cause this disease, but none are known to cause any major damage to the tree.