86 



WOODPECKERS IN RELATION TO TREES. 



THE WHITE MANGROVE FAMILY (COMBRETACE.E) . 



Defects due to sapsucker punctures are known in two of the three 

 native species of this family. In the buttonwood (A. A.) the blem- 

 ishes are small brown to black checks with short reddish streaks in 

 the wood. In the black olive tree the sapsucker holes are drilled 

 deep into the sapwood, and are either healed by the intrusion of long 

 plugs from the overlying new wood layer or remain open. These 

 defects may be accompanied by more or less dark stain. The wood 

 of this tree is valued for construction, but it is doubtful whether 

 much loss results from bird pecks. 



THE MYRTLE FAMILY (MYRTACEiE). 



W. Otto Emerson, of Haywards, Cal. 



states that the cutting of 

 the bark of the 

 blue gum (Euca- 

 lyptus globulus) , an 

 introduced tree of 

 this family, by the 

 red-breasted sap- 

 sucker in time 

 causes an enlarge- 

 ment of the limb 

 all around and 

 ruins the wood for 

 commercial pur- 

 poses. 



THE DOGWOOD FAM- 

 ILY (cornaceje). 



Fig. 30.— Effects of sapsucker work on wood of flowering dogwood 

 (Ci/tuui/hiii floridum). Large stains and gnarly grain. 



Blemishes pro- 

 duced by sap- 

 suckers have been noted in the #Ood of three species of this family, 

 in one of which, the flowering dogwood, they are very objectionable. 



Flowering dogwood (Cyrioxylon floridum). — The stains are from 

 dark reddish brown to black and are extensive, sometimes forming 

 a continuous band half an inch wide around the annual rings (fig. 36). 

 The wood is strongly bent outward over the healed wood and is very 

 gnarly. The defects are sufficient to keep the wood out of the 

 market, as only perfect pieces are used for such purposes as turnery, 

 carving, and engraving. (Specimens from Cottonport, La.) 



Species OP Coknack.e blemished. — Tupelo gum, cornel, and 

 flowering dogwood. 



