1.   Among the most recent is sudden oak death syndrome, which has killed thousands of oaks and other trees in California and may threaten the mighty redwood as well.

2.   But Phytophthora ramorum has been shown to cause sudden oak death syndrome, which has ravaged oak and tanoak trees in California.

3.   It was unclear whether this was the same species that causes sudden oak death syndrome, but Bovero said that the dying redwoods showed very similar symptoms.

4.   Scientists call it sudden oak death syndrome, and they are alarmed by its rapid spread and its ability to kill an ever increasing number and variety of trees.

5.   Up and down the California coast, thousands of oak trees are dying of a fast-spreading new disease called sudden oak death syndrome.

6.   When the tree eventually dies its leaves go quickly from green to brown, hence the name sudden oak death syndrome.