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Florida 4-H Forest Ecology

Florida 4-H Forest Ecology

Hispidus Canker: Identifying Characteristics

Identifying the injury: Sunken lesions (cankers) on stems. On smaller branches the symptoms may appear spindle-like. Along the margins of the cankers the callus tissue is usually evident.
Identifying the pathogen: Trees bear whitish-yellow to reddish brown, spongy, stalkless fruiting bodies (conks). After spores are released, the conks usually dry and turn blackish and often fall from the tree.
Susceptible trees: Mostly laurel, water and willow oaks. Sometimes hickory is affected.

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