FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Sarracenia purpurea | Pitcher-Plant 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
Pitcher-plant is usually top-killed by fire.  Severe fires may burn into
the peat layer and destroy the rhizomes, thereby killing the plant
[18,22].



DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
NO-ENTRY


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
Pitcher-plant resprouts from underground rhizomes following fire.  It is
well adapted to moderate fire in the South [18,22].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
NO-ENTRY


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Moth larvae infestations may be controlled by burning the previous
year's pitcher-plant litter.  Highly infested stands are frequently
those protected from fire [22].  Fire suppression also leads to less
frequent, severe fires which damage species normally considered to be
fire tolerant.  Fire is a natural event in carnivorous plant habitats,
and this must be considered when managing these areas [8].

The season that fire occurs in may influence the floristic composition
of pitcher-plant bogs.  Historically, summer fires were frequent,
probably occurring as a result of lightning.  At present, most fires are
caused by man and occur during the winter.  Data on the effects of this
shift are lacking; however, winter fires would seem less effective in
opening space for seed germination of bog species [9].

Related categories for Species: Sarracenia purpurea | Pitcher-Plant