FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Wyethia amplexicaulis | Mules Ears 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
Information on the effect of fire on mules ears is not available in the
literature.  Moderately severe or severe fires probably at least
top-kill mules ears.


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
NO-ENTRY


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
Young and Evans [34] reported that mules ears density generally
increases after rangeland fires.  Postfire frequencies (percent)
for mules ears in seral big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata)/Thurber
needlegrass (Stipa thurberiana) communities after three summer wildfires
in Nevada follow:

                                 Postfire Year
Location                1         2        3        4 
__________________________________________________________
Red Rock                3         2        2        4
Hallelujah Junction     2         1        T       ---
Seven Lakes             2         2       ---      ---

At the Red Rock site, mules ears was present within 1 month following
the fire.


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
NO-ENTRY


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Predictions of fire behavior and suggested guidelines for management
with prescribed fire have been formulated for trembling aspen/mules ears
community types in southeastern Idaho and western Wyoming.  It has been
suggested that fires in these communities are likely to be of low
intensity and will usually spread slowly.  Fuel loadings are marginal
for sustained spread.  Fires may occasionally crown but prescribed fires
could be easily controlled in trembling aspen/mules ears communities [7].

Brown [6] determined that the moisture content of mules ears in
trembling aspen stands is approximately 300 percent when green, but may
be as low as 25 percent when cured.

Related categories for Species: Wyethia amplexicaulis | Mules Ears