GR translation: A tree has inexplicably withered in the street to a shingly black corpse

[Mike Jing]

V632.1-9   He arrives at Twelfth House on Gallaho Mews in a homicidal state
of mind. Bicycle thieves run down the back streets, old pros wheeling them
three abreast at a good pace. Young men with natty mustaches preen in the
windows. Children loot the dustbins. Courtyard corners are drifted with
official papers, the shed skin of a Beast at large. A tree has inexplicably
withered in the street to a shingly black corpse. A fly lands belly-up on
the front fender of Roger’s motorcycle, thrashes ten seconds, folds its
veined and sensitive wings, and dies. Quick as that. First one Roger has
ever seen.

What does "shingly" mean here?  I assume it refers to roof shingles. Is it
meant to describe the appearance of the tree bark, as if it is made of
shingles?
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