FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Carex rostrata | Beaked Sedge 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
Fire consumes the aboveground tissue of beaked sedge, top-killing the
plant.  The rhizomes, however, suvive most fires, even those that
consume organic soils [8].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
NO-ENTRY


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
After a fire which charred the peat layer, beaked sedge regrew from
rhizomes and appeared dense and lush.  Beaked sedge also occurred as
isolated plants among other forbs and grasses on mineral soils [44].
Herbage productivity temporarily increases following fires [8,17].

Information regarding postfire seed production, germination, and
establishment of beaked sedge is lacking.


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
NO-ENTRY


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Beaked sedge communities are difficult to burn [17,18].  Prescribed
fires are most effective in late summer, early fall, or during dry years
when the water is below the soil surface [17,27].  Peat soils are
flammable when dry.  Hot fires may penetrate the soil and destroy sedge
rhizomes [27].  It is essential that livestock be excluded during the
year prior to burning [14,16].  Caution should be used with fires along
streams because of the excellent erosion protection beaked sedge
provides [4,15,18].

Fires do little to change plant composition of beaked sedge habitats
[17,46].  This includes fires that remove much of the organic
accumulation [9].  Fires reduce conifer swamps in succession to open
muskegs and in turn to sedge meadows that support little woody
vegetation.  Fires of these swamps also improve game habitat by
stimulation and increased production of edible growth and fruit and seed
[43].

Related categories for Species: Carex rostrata | Beaked Sedge