FUNGI AS CONTKIBUTORV CAUSES OF WINDFALL 703 



torium E. & E., and Sparassis radicata W. are the heart-rotting species 

 most commonly found in the roots of windfalls. 



The most important root-rotting fungus of the northwest region is 

 Polyponis schi^'einitzii, which is found to attack all the principal pines, 

 the larches, Douglas fir, western red cedar {Thuja plicata Don.), 

 spruce, western hemlock {Tsiiga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.), and grand 

 fir {Abies grandis Lindl.). It is generally found acting as a butt rot 

 in timber trees and produces a dry, reddish brown rot which breaks up 

 into more or less cubical portions upon exposure to drying. Although 

 a typical butt rot, it is found to advance into and beyond the second log 

 in many of the older trees. The fruiting bodies develop at the base of 

 the tree, springing through the soil from underground attachments to 

 injured roots, and are occasionalLy found developing as shelf conks 

 from injuries occurring at the base of the host. The fungus when 

 growing upon the soil is somewhat circular in outline, reddish to dark 

 rusty brown in color, having a light yellow margin when young and a 

 short thick central stalk. The porous, under surface is greenish brown 

 when fresh, turning to a dark brown shade when bruised. 



Trametes pini and Echinodontium tinctorium, both typical heart-rot 

 fungi operating in the main trunk of the host, are occasionally found 

 penetrating a considerable distance into the heartwood of the larger 

 roots. Trametes pini universally attacks all the coniferous trees, pro- 

 ducing a characteristic honeycomb rot having white pits scattered 

 throughout the rotted areas. The sporophores are shelf-shaped to 

 hoof-shaped, hard, rough, and of a dark grayish black color, with the 

 under surface of fine pores of a brownish }ellow color when fresh. In 

 host species having little resin this fungus often attacks the sapwood. 



Bchinodontium tinctoriiini, the Indian paint fungus, occurs almost 

 exclusively upon species of Abies, producing a very destructive heart 

 rot of a reddish brown color. The rot is very characteristic in having 

 patches of vivid rusty red scattered through the stringy brown rotten 

 wood. The fruiting bodies are very unique in that the under surface 

 is composed when mature of long white spines. The ui)per surface is 

 rough, zonatcd. often cracked, and of a black to gray black color. The 

 fruiting body is generally hoof-shaped. 



Pomes annosus, a typical root-attacking fungus, is chiefly found in- 

 juring the roots of Engelmann spruce, occasionally western white pine, 

 and to a lesser extent other conifers. It is both a sap and heart rotting 

 fungus and when found infecting a stand does considerable damage. 

 It plays an important part in the weakening of the roots of the host 

 attacked. The rot is characterized by white jiits having black centers, 



