RUBBER (HEVEA) DISEASES 17 
This fungus is not of economic importance except in cases where 
large areas of heartwood are exposed. This is a condition that would 
rarely exist on well-regulated estates. 
TRAMETES FLOCCOSA 
A single case in which the fungus Trametes ftoccosa Bres. was ap- 
parently responsible for root decay in Hevea was observed near 
Villa Murtinho on the Madeira River. A large tree which had been 
left in the open after clearing away the jungle had been recently 
overthrown by the wind. The lateral roots were pulled from the 
soil on one side and were badly decayed. The taproot broken off 
some 2 feet below the surface was rotted. The rot extended up- 
ward in the trunk for a distance of 3 to 4 feet and was exposed by 
the splitting of one side of the trunk. The overthrow of the tree 
must undoubtedly be attributed to the decay in the roots. Fructifi- 
cations of the fungus had recently developed directly from the 
split surfaces of the decayed wood. Under the circumstances the 
fungus may be considered the cause of the decay. The means by 
which the fungus had entered the tree could not be determined. 
The fructifications of the fungus are characterized by a thick soft 
light-colored punky context, a smooth brownish or black slightly 
encrusted surface, and small round pores having a texture harder 
than the context. The spores are elongate-elliptical, smooth, and 
measure 12 to 14 by 5 to 7 pi. The species has not been heretofore 
reported from the American Tropics. It is common in Ceylon and 
Africa. The decay is light yellowish in color and somewhat firm. 
BROWN-ROOT DISEASE 
The fungus Fomes lamaoensis Murr., the cause of much damage 
to the roots of Hevea in the East, was not found on Hevea in the 
Amazon Valley. It has been reported from the West Indies, but 
the specimens on which the report was based are to be referred to 
F. pachyphloeus, & closely related species. 
GANODERMA AUSTRALIS 
Ganoderma australis was found once as a wound fungus on Hevea. 
ROSELLINIA DISEASES 
Among a number of ascomycetic fungi collected on the roots of 
Hevea. either of dead stumps or trees or on the dead wood of open 
wounds on roots evidently caused by mechanical injury, were species 
of Rosellinia. This group has received considerable attention in 
recent years, for the reason that some of the most serious diseases of 
economic crops in the East Indies and the West Indies are caused 
by these fungi. Although no direct relation between the species 
found on Hevea and the diseased condition of the roots has been 
determined, the fact that they are present and were also found on 
the roots of associate crops where they exhibited parasitic action 
makes it desirable to record their occurrence for future reference, 
61384 °— 26 2 
