The fungus, which lives inside the leaves, not only increases the production of defensive substances in the trees, but also produces an alkaloid itself that protects the trees from feeding damage.

This fungus has been found on a Patagonian tree called ulmo (Eucryphia cordifolia ... fungus produces this gas in order to kill competing species, and in its composition they've found alcohols ...

A pattern of heavy winters and dry summers left the nearly 90-year-old tree susceptible to a particular type of fungus. Caretakers gave treatments to halt the infection, but to no avail.