Oak (Quercus robur) in Cardiff’s Thompson’s Park, May 24, 2016
As I expected, the pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) in Thompson’s Park, Cardiff, has now lost its fresh spring green colours and the leaves are dark and leathery. But the transformation has happened in just a fortnight, between my two visits this month.
Now that the tree has settled down for the “boring bit” of the year (in my humble opinion), I also looked under and around the tree to see what I could find.
Fresh green leaves on May 24
Dark, leathery leaves on June 7
I read a lovely Nature Notebook column by Miriam Darlington in The Times on May 21, which reminded me of my previous visit in the rain, as she, too, took shelter under an old oak, hers being in Devon. Annoyingly I can’t link to the piece online for you, as there is a paywall and you can’t read it unless you have a subscription.
She writes: “Oak is a byword for everything that is strong, generous, robust. Not just for me, but for the thousands of species that live in this towering citadel. More plants and creatures are dependent on the oak than any other tree in the UK. Lacewings, shield bugs, treecreepers; too many species to name.”
I didn’t find any of those, but here is what I did see…
Oak marble galls, recently vacated by the tiny wasp Andricus kollari – you can see a small, neat hole in each
Common housefly, Musca domestica, on young oak leaf on May 24
The only birds were the pigeons…
City pigeons, Columba livia domestica, on the oak, May 24
On June 7 the parks department had prepared the bare soil of a flower bed, which the pigeons found more interesting than the tree
I still don’t know if this hole shelters anything interesting
Miriam Darlington also writes: “…oaks are more likely to be struck by lightning than other trees. The phrase, ‘Beware the oak, it draws the stroke’ exists because oaks tend to be taller than surrounding trees and their moisture content is very high, increasing their ability to conduct a surge of electricity.”
I can see that would apply in the middle of a field, although maybe not in a park. The tallest trees around here tend to be beeches (Fagus sylvatica) and “my” oak is very short.
Trunk of the oak tree
What else did I see?
Last of the male catkins on May 24
Remains of female flowers, which I had trouble finding on my visit in the rain last month – there aren’t many of them, though, so no acorns to come?
Leaves sprouting near the base of the oak
Small, tangled roots
Near the oak is a tree stump…
It’s covered in fungi…
…which I think is Ganoderma australe, the southern bracket fungus, although I know some of you will correct me if I am wrong!
According to the First Nature website, Ganoderma australe, also known as Ganoderma adspersum, is a common bracket fungus that causes white heart rot in trees such as Tilia (lime), Quercus (oak), Fagus (beech), Platanus (plane) and Aesculus (horse chestnut).
Ganoderma means “shining skin” (Greek ganos, meaning brightness or shining and derma, meaning skin). Australe means “southern”.
What else was under the oak?
Daisies (Bellis perennis)
A pigeon feather
A pale and pretty dead oak leaf, fallen before its time
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The Squirrelbasket 
Awesome update thank you for sharing have a blessed day
You too – although I think we are in for a showery week 🙂
Pat an interesting update about oaks and your tree and it’s environment, the leaves do change quick don’t they I’ve noticed it too, in a blink of an eye it seems, I like the chunky bark and the small tangle of twisted roots, hope your good weather is lasting, Frances
Raining today – but it’s “good for the garden”.
I’m loving your birch and its surroundings, too 🙂
Interesting to see leaves sprouting at the base of such a large tree–is that common?
I really don’t know. Lime trees have a lot of them, but I have also seen it on some other trees.
All the best 🙂