English: Killer fungus. Meripilus giganteus, a fungus that is able to infect and kill trees, especially beech. It produces these large brackets which produce spores that are dispersed and infect other trees. The fungus will continue to appear on the dead tree for several years, living off the dead wood. Important recyclers as well as parasites. This one was on the forecourt of the local petrol station. The tree fell over on 29 February 2008, and a cross section of the stump shows the infection 714516. Another tree on the site, an oak, was felled in November 2008 - for a sequence of pictures showing its demise over two hours see 1056145. Later stages in the life of the fungus are seen in File:Fungus on beech stump - 5 years on (geograph 3572234).jpg and File:Perennial fungus - 10 years on (geograph 5124329).jpg.