6o 



A TEXT-BOOK OF BOTANY. 



Fig -xk A decaying tree trunk showing the cause of the death of the tree by 

 aVnear'a^nce of the^e?eral fungi (probably L./>/..a Amencana). It is not unusua 



'^'%'nTt^'eTs''show\rgTgnT'ordiseaTe"and-;fin even dying, and it 



not until 

 For some years 



the death of the tree that the mature fungus makes its appearance. I'or some yearb 

 e mycelium of the fungus has been working its way nito the tissues not only of 

 tSe ffi bu^of the wood sapping it of its vitality. The fungus finally produces its 



the bark but of the wood, sappi..^ .u u. ..^ ,..^...^. --- -. - - :. -.„,,„v, the 



fruit with spores, the latter being scattered by either the wind or through the 

 asency of birds, are carried to other trees and find entrance into rounds where 

 they germinate and repeat their destruction.— From a photograph by iroth. 



