Decomposition of Suppressed Oak Trees in Even‐aged Plantations

SUMMARY Three oak stands in the Forest of Dean and one in Savernake Forest, planted between 1929 and 1957, were studied (as was a single beech stand in Savernake forest). On the basis of these surveys and other observations, a general pattern of death and decay of the aerial parts of suppressed trees is described. The major agents of decomposition of above ground parts consisted of both basidiomycetes capable of invading living wood and those which act solely saprophytically. Numerous non‐wood‐rotting fungi were also isolated. Most of the basidiomycetes were found to be those which characteristically colonize attached branches on mature oak trees that are not suppressed. These presumably colonize aerially as spores whereas the other basidiomycetes, which were generally found lower down in the trunk, colonized from below ground parts and often produced cords or rhizomorphs growing sub‐cortically. The consequences of close planting are discussed and a brief comparison is made between beech and oak stands.