Fungal Communities in Attached Ash Branches

S ummary Attached dead and partly living ash branches of (Fraxinus excelsior) were cut from mature trees and the three‐dimensional structure of their decay communities analyzed. The communities were characterized by three Ascomycotina, seven Basidiomycotina and two Deuteromycotina, which varied in their ecological roles. The Ascomycotina Daldinia concentrica (Bolt: Fr.) Ces. its role was not completely clear but it was probably acting as a secondary colonizer. Mycoacia uda (Fr.) Donk was isolated once from terminal regions where it was replacing other species. In addition two Deuteromycotina, Phomopsis platanoidis Died, and a sterile unidentified sp., were isolated on a number of occasions, the former apparently resulted in little decay, although the latter was often found in decayed wood.