FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Aster laevis | Smooth Aster 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
Fire top-kills smooth aster.


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
NO-ENTRY


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
Most reports on the effects of fire in communities occupied by smooth
aster are inconclusive as to its response [1,17].  The number of leaves
per individual plant increased following a late spring prescribed fire,
with no change in the number of flowers or fruit per individual for
either the early spring or late spring prescribed fires [27].
Prescribed spring fires had variable effects on flowering in smooth
aster, depending on habitat.  Flowering was inhibited on dry-mesic
prairie site on an undisturbed south-facing slope and on a highly
disturbed, level, mesic prairie site.  Flowering was stimulated on
sloping and level mesic undisturbed prairie sites [33].  Three years
after a wildfire in jack pine (Pinus banksiana) stands, smooth aster was
an important component of the regenerating plots.  These sites had
standing dead trees, which indicates that there was probably a
substantial loss of crown shading [2].

Smooth aster was listed as a decreaser under an annual early spring
burning regime, and also after a spring wildfire [3,44].  Scheiner [37]
reported the presence of smooth aster on sites that had recently
undergone prescribed burns, as well as on older postfire seral sites.


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
NO-ENTRY


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
NO-ENTRY

Related categories for Species: Aster laevis | Smooth Aster