FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Osmunda cinnamomea | Cinnamon Fern 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
Cinnamon fern fronds are probably killed by fire.


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
NO-ENTRY


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
Cinnamon fern appears to be well adapted to recurring fires.  It
occurred in a west Louisiana bog that was burned on a regular basis
during the winter [36].  It also occurred in a southern Mississippi peat
bog burned annually for 7 years [14].  Cinnamon fern occurs in North
Carolina Coastal Plain longleaf pine-wiregrass savannahs that are fire
maintained.  The savannahs have fire intervals typically less than 8
years [60].  Cinnamon fern in the wetter areas of a virgin longleaf pine
forest in southwestern Georgia increased greatly over 27 years of annual
burning.  In this area cinnamon fern disappears within about 5 years in
the absence of fire, due in part to competition from shrubs and young
trees [29].

Cinnamon fern occurred on a fire barren in southwestern Nova Scotia that
had burned 2 years before.  It was thought to be a component of the
prefire vegetation that survived the fire [40].

Cinnamon fern occurs in both burned and unburned tree islands in the
Florida Everglades, but is much more abundant on unburned islands.  Fire
on these islands tends to burn out the peat substrate during periods of
drought [35].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
Cinnamon fern usually increases slightly in response to fire.

Cinnamon fern in an eastern white pine (Pinus strobus)-mixed hardwood
forest in New Hampshire was subjected to October 1976 and April 1977
prescribed fires.  Cinnamon fern occurred throughout the forest in moist
pockets and depressions.  Fires were of low severity, with flames 10 to
18 inches (25.4-45.7 cm) high and scorch heights 4 to 6 feet (1.2-1.8
m).  Cinnamon fern increased in cover and importance value after the
fall fire, but not after the spring fire or on control plots.  Cinnamon
fern also occurred sporadically in adjacent eastern white pine forest
plots that were burned at the same times.  Fire severity was less, with
flames 4 to 6 inches (10.2-15.2 cm) high and scorch heights 3 to 4 feet
(0.9-1.2 m).  Cinnamon fern was listed as neutral in response to fire on
these sites [51].


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 

Cinnamon fern survives fires in many habitat types and may increase in
cover [51].  However, if the fire is so intense or of such duration that
it burns the organic substrate completely, cinnamon fern will be lost [35].

Cinnamon fern occurs on hillside seepage bogs in longleaf pine savannah
of east-central Texas that is burned every 3 to 5 years during the
nongrowing season to maintain savannah vegetation [44].

Cinnamon fern in bayheads of south Florida may survive wet-season fires,
but drought-season fires can destroy them by burning out the islands [58].

Cinnamon fern occurs in North Carolina Coastal Plain shrub bog
communities that become grass (Poaceae)-sedge (Cyperaceae) bogs when
burned [61].

In northeastern Minnesota the summer moisture content of 21 groups of
understory plants was evaluated for fire prediction purposes from June
24, 1976 (after the period of primary plant growth) to August 26, 1976.
Ferns, including cinnamon fern, were evaluated as a group.  Fern
moisture was approximately in the middle range when compared to other
herbs [34].

Related categories for Species: Osmunda cinnamomea | Cinnamon Fern