The picture above shows lesions and discoloration on individual needles of a young redwood that has been infected with the Sudden Oak Death fungus. New foliage does not appear to be affected.
Click on image for full size
Matteo Garbelotto, UC Berkeley, and David Rizzo, UC Davis

Giant Redwoods Attacked by Tiny Fungus
News story originally written on September 17, 2002

Redwood trees are the tallest trees in the world. They grow in Northern California and can live for as long as 2000 years. Today, a deadly fungus threatens these trees.

Both the redwood trees and some Douglas fir trees in California have become infected with the fungus, which has killed more than 10,000 oak trees in the past three years. The disease does not seem to kill the old trees but it can kill the young trees.

The redwoods and the Douglas fir trees are very important. As the biggest plants, they control what the forest ecosystem is like.


Last modified September 17, 2002 by Lisa Gardiner.

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