1 84 RUBBER AND 



is the most serious of the three, the dead root is found 

 to be covered with white or yellowish threads and cords 

 of mycelium the growing strands of the fungus. An 

 equally common, but not quite so destructive, fungus is 

 Hymenochaete noxia, which may be recognised from the 

 fact that the root killed by it is covered with an 

 encrustation of sand and small stones, cemented to- 

 gether by the brown or black mycelium. There is 

 a third less common fungus which is occasionally found 

 upon the roots of Hevea in Ceylon, known as Sphaeros- 

 tilbe repens. When this is present there is no external 

 mycelium on the surface of the root, but on peeling off 

 the bark, dark brown strands of mycelium are found 

 wandering over the surface of the wood. 



Fames semitostus. 



The fructification of Fomes semitostus does not 

 usually make its appearance until long after the death 

 of the tree. Where rubber trees have died however it is 

 frequently to be found on a neighbouring jungle stump. 

 The fructification or sporophore grows out in the form of 

 a flat semi-circular bracket from the decaying log or 

 stump. It is distinguishable from innumerable other 

 " bracket fungi " by its characteristic colours. When 

 fresh, the upper surface is coloured a rich brown with 

 a narrow rim of yellow, whilst the under surface is 

 bright orange. The consistency of the fructification 

 is woody and brittle, and the lower surface is covered 



