173 



Parasitic Fungi on Hevea Braziliensis. 



In the Notizblatt des Konigl. Botanische Gartens unci Museums 

 zu Berlin, (Vol. 4, No. 34, p. 133) is a paper by P. HENNINGS on 

 fungi parasitic on Heveas. He describes and figures fine leaf- 

 fungi, viz., Phyllachora Huberi, Dothidella Ulei, Aposphcevia Ulei, 

 Ophiobolus Hevea; and Parodiella Melioloides, All have only as 

 yet been found in the Amazonas district of Brazil, but do not seem 

 to be very serious, though the Ophiobolus c]uite destroys the leaf 

 and is perhaps the most dangerous of them. 



A. Meliola probably M. Amphitvicha, Fr. also occurs with the 

 Phyllachora and is very destructive. 



On sick and rotten trees of various species of Hevea Allesche- 

 riella uredinoides was found. 



Professor ZIMMERMAN has found in the Culture Garden at 

 Buitenzorg Carticium javanicum, Zimrn. which also grows on 

 Castilloa and other cultivated plants, and Nectria coffeicola and on 

 the leaves, Phyllosticta Hevea and Glaeosporium Elastics?, a known 

 parasite on Ficus elastica. Stilbum Hevea occurs on dying twigs. 



Though none of these fungi are stated to do serious damage as 

 yet, it would be as well for cultivators to keep an eye on any spots 

 or signs of fungi appearing on the leaves or twigs. Attacks from 

 leaf-fungi would be much more difficult to deal with in the case if 

 a lofty tree like Para rubber than with a short accessible plant like 

 Coffee, and all know the damage done to the latter plant by 

 Hemileia. 



The Ceylon canker is reported from the Malay States, but 1 

 have not seen it. 



A planter in Sandakan sends me a specimen of a fungus which 

 appears to be most pernicious. He writes tl My attention was 

 attracted by a tree which appears to have been white washed. The 

 colouring commenced about eight feet from the ground and ex- 

 tended upwards for about six feet, taking the branches in that space 

 from 1 to 2 feet. The first branches affected were dead and as red 

 as you see by pieces sent, the other affected branches were dying. 



All over the affected part the rubber was streaming in long 

 tears. It is apparently purely local. A two stemmed tree was 

 affected in one stem only. There are four trees attacked in this 

 way. 



The bark sent was densely covered with a fine mycelium run 

 ning between the bark ridges, and these latter were covered with a 

 salmon pink mass apparently of felted mycelium. I can see no 

 fruit on the plant. 1 have seen a somewhat similar fungus, on 

 stems of Ramie, and Strobilanthes when grown too close together 

 and very damp. The fungus had grown over the small musses 

 and hepatus on the bark, which was quite dead and the wood be- 

 neath was dead and bored by wood beetles. 



