Re: cypress and such



The most likely culprit is Seiridium cardinale, which is usually called "cypress canker". It is found on our native Monterey Cypresses - Cupressus macrocarpa (I live not far from one of the original two groves of C. macrocarpa). There is also Coryneum canker, which is usually the most often cited (i suspect both do their damage). Where summers are cool, the cypresses manage to deal with the canker, but when moved inland, the canker takes over, and the trees die. You rarely find healthy C. macrocarpa where summers are hot, and after a few years they decline. From what I've read the common damaging canker of Redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) is Coryneum rather than Seiridium, which can girdle branches and even whole trees.

Funny you mention allergies, because most people here in Monterey claim that it's the acacias (from Australia) that cause so many allergy problems. I actualy would have planted one, but my mother was vehemently against it as she said it aggravated her allergies.

----- Original Message ----
From: khe36747 <khe36747@bigpond.net.au>
To: Medit-plants@ucdavis.edu
Sent: Tuesday, August 29, 2006 3:35:10 PM
Subject: cypress and such

Speaking of cypress, which no one was but the request for suggestions for plants for situations of dry shade by Gill Pound reminded me of this, our local botanic garden is loosing its redwoods, Sequoia redwoods. Ten years of drought has put them under stress and they are now infected with a fungal disease called 'cypress canker'. The local myth is that these trees were bought to Ballarat by Californian miners in the 1850 gold rush, but you know how reliable local myths are, still it is sad to loose them. My question to the group is what other plants might be infected by 'cypress canker'. I have a secret wicked hope that it might attack the many cypress hedges that infest the local landscape and create so much work in the alergy clinic I attend - so many children seem to be allergic to them or their pollen. Does anyone know what 'cypress canker' might be?
 
Margaret Healey

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