W. J. Dow SON 95 



Podocarjms, so far, has no fungous enemies; its timber, however, is 

 very much attacked by termites. Juniperus procera is subject to the 

 attacks of the bracket fungus Fames juniperinus (Schrenk.) Sacc. & Syd., 

 which causes very great damage by producing a heart-rot. About 70 per 

 cent, of the trees are affected, and it is quite common to see newly felled 

 trunks with a large part of the wood replaced by spongy red masses 

 extending for considerable distances. Fames junipennus is probably a 

 wound parasite, the hoof -like fructifications of which are usually formed 

 just below a small branch which has been broken off a long time previously 

 and which has not been occluded over. The heart wood of Juniperus 

 procera is resistant to the attack of white ants. 



Brachylaena hutchinsi, a tall tree with a straight trunk, is often killed 

 by strangulation brought about by the entwining and anastomosing 

 branches of a species of fig. This fig gradually surrounds the trunk of 

 its host and all stages are commonly met with, from the partially grown 

 fig at the base of its victim to the nearly fully matured parasite with its 

 rounded head of foliage, out of which can just be distinguished the top- 

 most branches of the Brachijlaena, evidently in extremis. Finally a stage 

 is reached in which the m'hugu rots away leaving the fig standing alone, 

 and soon afterwards the fig itself dies. 



Recently, an important Scleratinia disease of the young seedhngs of 

 Brachylaena in the nurseries of the Forestry Department near Nairobi 

 has been recorded and partially investigated. The young trees were found 

 to whither and die when they had reached a height of from 3 to 4 feet. 

 An examination of the roots brought to light numerous small black 

 sclerotia, irregular in shape, clinging to the base of the stem just below 

 ground level. The sclerotia varied in size from a rounded mass 1 mm. 

 in diameter to a flat irregularly shaped mass 1 cm. across. Several 

 specimens of the sclerotia were collected and kept under conditions as 

 natural as possible, and after a few months began to produce apothecia 

 on long (I in.) stalks. None, however, succeeded in reaching maturity, 

 and when nearly fully opened, withered and died down. On investiga- 

 tion these nearly ripe apothecia were discovered to be infested by eel- 

 worm, and the question arises as to whether or not in nature the spread 

 of this fungus is kept in check by the eelworm. The investigation could 

 not be completed and the few apothecia produced in the places where 

 the infected trees had been removed likewise succumbed to eelworm 

 attack. 



