"lowlife" wrote in message
...

hi i really need to find out what this shrub or tree is, as it has mould
on it that probably wants treating. i'll describe it and link 3 photo's
from photobucket (hope that's allowed).

firstly i live in surrey. the soil is clay but well mixed now. the
shrub is about 5 ft high, round in form with grey / brown smooth bark.
the buds are very small and staggered as opposed to pairs, and there
are no leaves on it at this time. on the end of each branch there is a
group of brown open seed pods. the fungi is clustered on the lower
branches and looks like white/pale cyan granules.

i've taken a pic of the tree, the pods and the fungus or whatever it
is

http://tinyurl.com/29ej9r

http://tinyurl.com/22c58j

http://tinyurl.com/2ghxb2

i hope they work. failing that, does anyone know of an online plant
finder?
thanks

--
lowlife

Hi,

I'd go with Hibiscus syriacus, I've just been out and had a look at my
Hibiscus syriacus 'Oiseau bleu', the structure and seed pods looks very
similar to your photos, so I thought I'd take a picture of it:

http://www.ukgardening.co.uk/images/...s_syriacus.jpg
(I held up a white card behind the seed head, else it wouldn't stand out
against the browns of the beech hedge behind it).

Here's a picture of it in full flower, along with leaf detail:
http://www.ukgardening.co.uk/images/...hibiscus12.jpg

As others have said the 'fungus' is lichen and won't do any harm.

I live in Surrey, but on sandy soil.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

Nick
http://www.ukgardening.co.uk