Rubber Plant Diseases 331 



The Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica) 



Cultural Considerations. Rubber plants generally 

 adapt themselves to wide ranges of temperature. 

 They may do as well when exposed to full sunlight 

 as when kept under partial shade. In the summer 

 it is advisable to plunge them out of doors to he 

 hardened. The plants require frequent feedings with 

 liquid manure. 



Diseases of Rubber Plants. 



The rubber plant is considered very hardy. It is 

 subject to but few diseases of importance. 



Leaf Spot of Indla Rubber 



Caused by Leptostromella elastica Ell. and Ev. 



Symptoms. The India rubber (Ficus elastica) is 

 usually considered a hardy plant. Under green- 

 house conditions, however, it is often attacked by a 

 leaf spot which at times proves very disastrous. The 

 presence of the disease is first manifested by small 

 spots (fig. 68, a) or streaks. These soon increase 

 in number and in size until the entire leaf area 

 becomes involved, resulting in a premature dropping 

 of the foliage. The spots, which at first appear yel- 

 lowish, soon turn brownish and finally become gray. 

 The dead tissue is sharply defined from the living 

 as it is banded by a narrow black margin. The 

 pycnidia (fig. 68, b) appear scattered within the 



