FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Cassia fasciculata | Showy Partridgepea 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
Fire will kill showy partridgepea [35,37].  High-severity fires may
consume seeds stored in the seed bank.


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
NO-ENTRY


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
Showy partridgepea generally increases in abundance after fire and will
decrease in the absence of fire or other disturbance [1].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
Showy partridgepea greatly increased in frequency following two spring
fires in consecutive years at a southern Illinois barren.  However, it
showed a rapid decline in frequency following fire cessation.  Sampling
took place during the summer after each burn.  Following the spring fire
in 1970 showy partridgepea quadrat frequency was 64; however, by
postfire year 15, quadrat frequency had declined to 2 [1].


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Prescribed fire can greatly increase the quantity and availability of
showy partridgepea seed to northern bobwite and other wildlife species
[25].  If managing areas for the maintainence of showy partridgepea, the
season of burning is important.  If burned as early as January, the
fire-scarified seed may germinate prematurally, and the seedlings may be
killed by March frosts [35,36,37].  Burns should be conducted after the
danger of late frosts has passed and before growth has started [35].
Nitrogen is a main nutrient lost during fire.  Showy partridgepea can be
planted on burned sites to restore nitrogen to the soil [42].

Related categories for Species: Cassia fasciculata | Showy Partridgepea