FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Arbutus texana | Texas Madrone 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
Little is known about the effects of fire on Texas madrone.  Mature
individuals were reported in forest communities of the Chisos Mountains
of Texas which had burned at periodic intervals during the last 50 years
[8].  This may indicate the presence of morphological adaptations which
permit survival.  Alternately, fuels may have been discontinuous or
light and the burns patchy or of low severity.


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
NO-ENTRY


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
The response of Texas madrone to fire has not been documented.  Vigorous
stump-sprouting has been reported after mechanical removal [31], but
postfire sprouting has not been reported.  Since Texas madrone is
relatively rare and fire uncommon in many communities in which it
occurs, lack of published accounts may not necessarily rule out the
possibility of postfire sprouting.  Seed is produced in abundance [26]
and is widely dispersed by birds [19].  Very limited seedling
establishment may occur on favorable sites.


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
NO-ENTRY


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Bock and Bock [2] report that prescribed fire is "difficult to manage
and potentially very destructive" in established riparian woodlands of
the Southwest.  These relatively rare and fragile areas provide
important food and cover for desert wildlife [21].  Because browse and
cover are often limited in these areas, burning is not generally
recommended [21].

Related categories for Species: Arbutus texana | Texas Madrone