18 The Decay of Ties in Storage 



Hypoxylon Coccineum 

 (Plate II, Fig. 2; Plate V, Figs. 6 and 8) 

 The fruiting-bodies of this species are of the same type as the 

 preceding, but differ in being considerably larger, although not usually 

 exceeding J4 m cn i n diameter. They are reddish-brown in color but 

 may become somewhat blackened in age. The distribution is essen- 

 tially the same as for the preceding species, and the rot is quite similar. 

 The fungus is also limited to beech. 



Daldinia Concentrica 

 (Plate III, Fig. 2; Plate VI, Figs. 1 and 2) 

 This fungus appears as large more or less globular "buttons" up 

 to 1 or 2 inches in diameter. These are of the color and consistency 

 of charcoal within and blackish, tinged with olive green on the outside 

 surface, which is quite smooth. The spores are borne in a layer of 

 small cavities just beneath the crust and ooze out through minute 

 openings. A scant mycelium forms over the surface of the wood, 

 which, together with the dark brown spores which have collected around 

 the fruit-bodies, blacken it. The fungus was found on soft maple and 

 white elm ties, but is also known to attack various hardwoods in 

 different parts of the country. The rot is severe and ties bearing the 

 fungus should be culled. 



Exidia Glandulosa 

 (Plate III, Fig. 4; Plate V, Figs. 9-11) 



This fungus is black and jelly-like. It grows spread out flat on 

 the surface of the wood. When developing on the ends of ties it often 

 follows the sapwood around in a ring, but it may also overgrow the 

 heartwood. When moist it is slimy to the touch with a much crumpled 

 outer surface, but when dry it shrinks to a very thin, shiny black 

 brittle membrane which shows no crumpling. The spores are white and 

 are borne on the exposed surface of the fruit-bodies. 



This was one of the fungi commonly encountered on hardwoods, 

 mainly red gum and beech, in the region investigated. It is widely 

 distributed over the United States, but heretofore has not been re- 

 ported as causing serious decay in structural timbers. It should be 

 discriminated against, at least in the South, where it can apparently 

 decay the less durable woods in a comparatively short time. 



Blue Stain (Cesatostomella Spp.) 

 (Plate VII, Figs. 8, 10 and. 11) 

 This fungus frequently appears on the ends or surface of freshly 

 cut timbers of both conifers and hardwoods. In many cases the 

 mycelium is scanty, but in others it may form a luxuriant, matted 

 growth, at first whitish but soon becoming brownish-black. The fruit- 

 ing-bodies are seated either in this matted mycelium or directly on the 



