FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Typha angustifolia | Narrow-Leaved Cattail 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
Burning topkills narrow-leaved cattail and reduces stem density [1].  
Fires that burn into the peat layer can kill cattail [4].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
The effects of fire on the narrow-leaved cattail hybrid T. Xglauca were
determined for a New Brunswick marsh.  The marsh was divided into two
sections, each containing four blocks of four plots.  In each section one
block was burned in early and mid-June, one was burned in early and
mid-July, and one was burned in mid-August and mid-September.
Vegetation was measured the third postfire year.  Following each fire,
plots were either drained or flooded.  On the drained sites T. Xglauca
cover, density, and height were least on the plots burned in July.
Other burned plots did not differ significantly from the control.  On
the flooded sites July-burned plots had greater T. Xglauca cover than
control plots.  Other burned plots did not differ significantly from the
control [30].  


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
Narrow-leaved cattail will sprout following fire if rhizomes are not
consumed [1,4].  For detailed information, refer to the CASE STUDIES
FRAME.


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
NO-ENTRY


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Fire can be used to reduce aboveground debris, opening up stands for
nesting waterfowl.  Burning in winter when rhizomes are buried in ice or
in frozen soil usually will not kill cattail.  If the objective is to
create more open stands for wildlife, burning should be conducted in
spring following a relatively dry winter, when the marsh is dry [4].

Cattail marshes are difficult to burn 2 years in a row because
accumulated debris is needed for fuel.  The thick bases of cattail
species are often the last part of the plant to dry out and are
difficult to burn.

Canada geese, herons, egrets, and other waterfowl use burned marsh areas
for feeding and nesting [4].

Draining and burning marshes during July inhibits rapid growth of
cattail species.  Several fires during summer will release nutrients if
a portion of the organic mat is removed [30].  Draining and burning
before a thick mat layer forms is necessary for slowing palludification.
Fires on nutrient-poor fens can reduce species diversity and create
oligotrophic bogs, but on nutrient-rich sites fires will not typically
reduce species diversity [30].

Related categories for Species: Typha angustifolia | Narrow-Leaved Cattail