CHAPTER X 

 BEECH DISEASES 



The beech (Fagus) is a common tree throughout eastern and 

 central United States. The American and different varieties 

 of the European beech are often used as ornamentals. 



No serious diseases of the leaves of beech are known. Several 

 fungi cause leaf-spots occasionally and a sooty mold fungus often 

 occiu-s on the leaves (see pages 27 and 41). The beech is 

 subject, however, to several wood-rot diseases. The yellowish 

 sapwood-rot and common white wood-rot are very destructive 

 in the forest. The roots are parasitized by the flowering plant 

 commonly known as beech-drop. This parasite, however, does 

 not cause any damage. 



Yellowish Sapwood-Rot 



Caused by Fames fomentarius Fries 



This sapwood-rot is common on beech, yellow birch and to 

 a lesser extent on other deciduous trees of northeastern and 

 north central United States. The fungus causing the decay is 

 also an important and rapid timber-destroyer throughout its 

 range. Where beech or birch is predominant and any unusual 

 amount of injiu-y has occurred because of fire or limb breakage, 

 this sapwood-rot is found in great abundance and causes large 

 losses in timber values. It is also a common disease in Europe. 



Symptoms. 



The decay produced is distinctly a sapwood-rot at first, 

 startmg in the outer layers next to the bark. As a result of 



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