conifer Tree fungi

Hi u guys. Couldn't find the pest and disease section so am posting this here. I have a conifer that has gradually lost its needles on its shadey side but is gradually spreading up the tree and I've only noticed today, has white bobbly fungus on the bark of the dieing branches

 

I know there is a disease that is killing conifers but I've not come across it as yet. You say it's lost it's needles, that suggests to me it's a pine and not a conifer. I'm sorry, unfortunately the tree will not recover as conifers and pines don't replace lost foliage, it would be best to remove it.

 

Sheal I am slightly confused....
A conifer is a tree that bears cones...it can be evergreen or deciduous.
Therefore a pine is also very much a conifer

 

I will bow to your better judgement @Silver surfer. I've always though of conifers as having a soft foliage where as pines have needles. I also didn't know conifers could be deciduous either. Hmmm it looks like I've learnt something new!

Would you agree with me though, that there is little chance of the above tree making a recovery?

 

Sheal....I agree the conifer looks in a bad way.

Conifers can be evergreen...eg.Pines, Spruce, Firs...all have needles...all have cones.

Conifers can also be deciduous...eg.Larch, Dawn redwood, swamp cypress...all have cones.

Larch has needles

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=l...OoLwaNmpgNAG&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1536&bih=728

As do others...
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=s...&sa=X&ei=qFVBVfi-GM_laJH5geAC&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ


https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=d...Lc7far3UgfAF&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1536&bih=728
Here is a list of deciduous conifers..


Pinaceae:


Larix (larches; 13 species)Larix decidua (European Larch)Larix sibirica (Siberian Larch)Larix gmelinii (Dauhurian Larch)Larix kaempferi (Japanese Larch)Larix principis-rupprechtii (Prince Rupprecht's Larch)Larix himalaica (Langtang Larch)Larix griffithii (Himalayan Larch)Larix kongboensis (Kongbo Larch)Larix potaninii (Potanin's Larch)Larix mastersiana (Masters' Larch)Larix lyallii (Subalpine Larch)Larix occidentalis (Western Larch)Larix laricina (Tamarack Larch)Pseudolarix amabilis (Golden Larch)

Cupressaceae:


Taxodium (baldcypresses; 2 species deciduous, a third evergreen)Taxodium distichum (Bald Cypress)Taxodium ascendens (Pond Cypress)Metasequoia glyptostroboides (Dawn Redwood)

Glyptostrobus pensilis (Chinese Swamp Cypress)

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=d...EoXcasfqgagI&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1536&bih=728

Hope this helps.

 

That's interesting, thank you Silver surfer. I didn't realise that all these trees were classed as conifers, particularly Larches and Redwoods.

Sadly, we are losing plantations of Larches here on the island to disease. It's such a shame to see them all being felled.

 

This is due to Phytopthora ramorum where the policy is to fell all susceptible trees at the first sign of the disease. We've lost a number of plantations, mainly Japanese larch, here in the South West

 

Thanks muchly for the advice. If anyone comes across a name for the disease it would be gratefully received