FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Descurainia sophia | Flixweed Tansymustard 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
Flixweed tansymustard is readily killed by fire at most times of the
year.  It is not affected by fall burning [25].  


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 



PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
Flixweed tansymustard produces seed in abundance.  It quickly invades a
burn by wind-dispersed seed.  Seedlings grow well on exposed mineral
soil [21].  Flixweed tansymustard is an important species in early seres
of burned pinyon-juniper woodlands and sagebrush-grassland communities
[6,24].  In a Utah study, flixweed tansymustard was one of the most
abundant annual forbs during early succession on recent burns [1].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
Flixweed tansymustard typically increases in relative abundance after a
fire.  In a Utah study of pinyon-juniper communities, it was present in
burns of various ages, but was a dominant forb only during the first
stages of succession [1].  In burned sagebrush-grassland ranges of
southern Idaho, flixweed tansymustard occupies a second distinct
successional stage as follows [15]:

     Years after burn       Dominant species

          1, 2              Russian thistle          
          3, 4              flixweed tansymustard and tumblemustard
          5 +               cheatgrass


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
NO-ENTRY

Related categories for Species: Descurainia sophia | Flixweed Tansymustard