Re: Grooves in trunk of palm tree

"JimR" <jimr@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message 
news:13j21id8ptej9e@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> "Sammy bin Snoozin" <SammyBinSnoozin@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message 
> news:A8oXi.16179$Rg1.11432@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> I think this is a king palm (not 100% sure). Here are some photos I just

> took today to show a possible problem.  Up until today I thought this
was 
> normal, but when I push on the tree, it sway very easily and I can see
the 
> trunk move at the ground.  Nothing appears wet or eaten by insects - 
> everything I can see and touch is hard like a normal tree.
>
> Anyway, anyone who can share some info about this tree - is this normal
or 
> not, etc - would be very much appreciated.
>
Going to work this morning I noticed a palm enroute that is very similar
to 
the one in your picture.  In this one, the fissures go from the ground to 
about 5-6 feet height.  I still think this may be the early stages of 
ganoderma butt rot.

Info is available at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/PP100

Included in their summary:

-- Ganoderma butt rot is caused by the fungus Ganoderma zonatum. This
fungus 
degrades or rots the lower 4-5 feet of the trunk.

-- There are currently no cultural or chemical controls for preventing the

disease or for curing the disease once the palm is infected.

-- A palm cannot be diagnosed with Ganoderma butt rot until the
basidiocarp 
(conk) forms on the trunk, or the internal rotting of the trunk is
observed 
after the palm is cut down.

-- Because the fungus survives in the soil, planting another palm back in 
that same location is not recommended.