Can you identify this dead tree - important

[Reusername]

This dead? tree in within our land we believe. We need to identify it because we have a historic plan of trees and our horrible old neighbour is claiming the land as hers as well as dumping rubbish there. Also does anyone know what the black fungus is? Thank you in advance.

Pretty sure it's not elm

Looks like elder (sambucus) to me, you can see it in the first photo where it looks like it's been headed and resprouted from the stump. Elders come back like that - more bush than tree.

It’s not hawthorn is it? We had a hedge of that and the bark reminds me of it.

I'm at a loss. I have googled suggestions but not quite matching which I not to say they aren't right, just that google haven't got a good photo!

OP, cut into one of the smaller branches and smell it. If it has a strong and rather unpleasant pong, it’s an elder. It certainly looks like elder bark to me, as several PPs agree.

Agree elder

That doesn't look like cramp balls, which come in separate rounded balls about the size of a billiard ball. I've never seen them coalesce into a mass like that.

Does it still have any life shoots on it? If so, could you get hold of one and photograph it. Buds would tell us a lot.

Nearest fungus I can find is www.first-nature.com/fungi/exidia-nigricans.php
but in that case it would look as if your fungus is past it.

Agree the bark does look elder-like, but to me the overall growth doesn't - too erect a trunk, branches coming out horizontal. Elder makes a very scruffy tree. But then I may be getting my scale completely wrong.

This may help:
paulkirtley.co.uk/2011/bark-buds-common-european-deciduous-trees-winter-identification/
(It also shows that PP are wrong in saying that ash has a smooth bark - that applies only to saplings).

@WithIcePlease

If she's claiming land, I'd pay an experienced accredited tree surgeon to write a few lines confirming what trees you have to use as evidence rather than random MN opinions

This with bells on. Your opinion (or anyone else’s online) is totally irrelevant in this scenario. You need to get someone in to prove it is what you say it is and what is shown on your plan. It won’t be horribly expensive to get a tree surgeon to come and identify a tree (I would get them to view the tree plan and confirm them all tbh). Your neighbour is already being awkward, you need real ammunition for this one!

Having seen the branches, I now don't think it's elder - the whole thing looks too big (difficult to tell without scale), but it also doesn't necessarily look dead. Are those buds on twigs coming from the branches, or is that something growing behind it?

If you can, cut off a twig, finger sized diameter or so. Elder has a core of the through the middle. Its soft, spongey and will easily mark with a finger nail. Older twigs might be hollow.

Hehe I agree that none of us on here can be of any use in a legal dispute but I have to admit I'm intrigued now. I wonder if it was a plum tree? they can have a very rough trunk, and they are also easy to kill if you prune them at the wrong time of year yes I have done this

or as suggested previously, an apple. Pears tend to crack in quite a square pattern on the bark - but looking at the latest photos I wouldn't rule out pear either. But if I had to bet, I'd say plum.

Also perhaps a crab apple?

If there is a tiny bit of life left in it then it won't be long till it's in leaf, which would make ID so much easier.

It still seems dead as a dodo. So I’ve called a tree surgeon! Hopefully he can come out next week or the following. I’ll let you know what his view is!

It looks possibly like it has crown gall, which would make identification more difficult.

I'm thinking Elm. We had a row of three elm trees which succumbed to Dutch elm disease, some saplings carried on growing, when they got to a certain size they too died the last one, taken down in 2017, also had black fungus round the base. Should have taken pics at the time...

I kind of hope it is elm as it will prove this is our border and our old tree. I shall see if the arborist can shed any light on it.

Looks very similar to a row of trees I’ve just had pollarded. They were very old white poplars. The bark isn’t white/green until further up the tree on newer growth and on a very old tree (which yours might be if it’s dead) the lower bark is very furrowed and scaly like in your photo. Any poplars on your plan?

No, only ash and elm. Doesn't mean it isn't though.