FIRE ECOLOGY
SPECIES: Leymus cinereus | Basin Wildrye 



FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS : 
Basin wildrye is generally considered to be well adapted to fire
[14,81,89].  Crowns have coarse stems which tend to insulate perennating
buds located at or just below the ground surface [82].  As a result, the
majority of plants survive fire to become components of the postburn
community [67,77].  Surviving plants sprout from basal buds and, in some
ecotypes, from rhizomes.  Some postfire seedling establishment may also
occur.

Although basin wildrye is widely cited as being stimulated to sprout by
fire [15,21,28], trends in postburn frequencies and coverages of basin
wildrye have received little study.  However, a recent study involving
prescribed burning of sagebrush-grassland communities in Nevada [89]
indicates that recovery of basin wildrye following fire is rapid.  Basal
diameters and plant heights were initially reduced, but preburn levels
were regained within 4 years.  Recovery is generally related to season
of burn and fire severity.  Burning during periods of plant dormancy
appears to be most conducive to the rapid recovery of basin wildrye
[75,80,89].


POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY : 
   Tussock graminoid
   Rhizomatous herb, rhizome in soil
   Initial-offsite colonizer (off-site, initial community)
   Secondary colonizer - on-site seed

Related categories for Species: Leymus cinereus | Basin Wildrye