FIRE ECOLOGY
SPECIES: Osmunda cinnamomea | Cinnamon Fern 



FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS : 
Although fronds are probably killed by fire during the growing season,
cinnamon fern sprouts from rhizomes after the aerial portions are burned
[49,53].  Cinnamon fern has good fire tolerance and shows vigorous
rhizome growth after fire [51].  Spores germinate on mineral soil [23],
so cinnamon fern probably colonizes after fire.  It grows in the open
conditions created by fire in at least part of its range [20,36,60].

Cinnamon fern occurs in the Greater Sandhills of south-central North
Carolina in Atlantic white-cedar dominated wetland corridors.  The trees
in these wetlands show evidence of past fires [46].  Cinnamon fern
occurs in the Green Swamp, North Carolina, longleaf pine/wiregrass
savannahs which are maintained by frequent fire [28].  It also occurs in
fire-maintained South Carolina longleaf pine savannahs [20].


POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY : 
   Rhizomatous herb, rhizome in soil
   Secondary colonizer - off-site seed

Related categories for Species: Osmunda cinnamomea | Cinnamon Fern