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The article focuses on the death of bark in Acer pseudoplatanus as a result of drought. Flattened fibres and parenchyma cells, together with budded and constricted rays were interpreted as a drought ring in Sycamore. The damage was dated to late summer of 1972, an exceptional drought year in Scotland. An investigation was made in early 1976 of Sycamore near Stirling in cast Scotland showing patches of dead bark on sterns and brandies. In all injuries, death of cambium had occurred between the end of the growing season 1972 and its start in 1973. The end of the growing season in 1972 was abnormally dry. Anatomical abnormalities occurred in the latewood of the 1972 growth ring. They comprised radial flattening oil vessels and other elements and severe buckling and distortion of the rays. It is suggested that these features make up a drought ring.

Studies the total primary production of sycamore, or Acer pseudoplatanus, in Western Scotland. Examination of whether the large number of infesting aphids remove a considerable proportion of the photosynthetic production of sycamore trees; Supplementation of field data for sycamore in the west of Scotland; Implications on ecological studies.