thanks all--i looked at the thing again this morning and it looks like
the rot* has spread down; i don't think i could cut it all the way to
clean tissue. i probably should have whacked off the top a couple
months ago. i tossed some cinnamon on it this AM cause i was in a
hurry; i may try the pouring-H2O2-on-it-weekly thing until it gets
better or it dies. if it gets better, great; if it dies, i have the
receipt--and an excuse to go visit Al in the spring and pick out
another harlequin. :-)

--j_a


* i don't know if this is actually crown rot or not; i thought CR
could eat your plant in, like, 36 hrs? this is slower moving, but
it's black, and sticky, and in the right place. (and yes the plant is
isolated from all the others again.)