Honey fungus spreads by underground rhizomorphs (bootlaces). It finds a
tree, enters via the collar at gound/soil juction, kills the tree then
uses
the dead wood as a sugar (food) source while it forages on via more
bootlaces. Or it finds a lump of dead tree and uses it in the same way.

It's one of our commonest fungi. How come there are still trees in the
UK? ;-)

I think - as I suspect you do - that it only attacks dead trees.

That's been our experience.

It's not in any parasite's interest to kill all potential hosts.

Mary

--
Kay Easton

Edward's earthworm page:
http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm