FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Cercocarpus betuloides | Birchleaf Mountain-Mahogany 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
Plant:  Most fires top-kill birchleaf mountain-mahogany.  It is a common
component of chaparral where severe wildfires often defoliate all
aboveground vegetation and leave only charred stems and a layer of ash
over mineral ash [15,48].  Birchleaf mountain-mahogany is a strong
resprouter, and survival is usually high; however, 25 to 60 percent
mortality has been observed following hot chaparral fires [26,44].

Seed:  Birchleaf mountain-mahogany seeds are not heat-resistant and are
easily destroyed by fire.  Seeds on the ground are especially vulnerable
to heat damage; seeds in the crown of lightly damaged plants may
occasionally survive [4].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
NO-ENTRY


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
Birchleaf mountain-mahogany sprouts vigorously following fire, and
recovery is relatively rapid.  Sprouting is independent of the growing
season and can begin as soon as 10 days after burning [34].  Sixty-four
percent of preburn plants had sprouted within 4.5 months of an intense
summer chaparral fire in southern California [38].  Sprouts grow
rapidly.  After one growing season, fire-borne sprouts in southern
California were taller than those of associated shrubs, averaging
between 12 and 27 inches (31-69 cm) tall [25].  Six to eight years after
fire, birchleaf mountain-mahogany sprouts are often 5 or 6 feet (1.5-1.8
m) tall [11,17].  Sprouts have produced seed as early as 5 years after
fire [3].

Small numbers of seedlings have been observed on some burns [17,25].
Mortality of postfire seedlings may be high.  Sweeny [43] observed that
about 75 percent of first year birchleaf mountain-mahogany seedlings
were dead 4 years after fire.


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
NO-ENTRY


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Percentage of dead arial fuels is higher for birchleaf mountain-mahogany
than for associates such as chamise, manzanitas, and scrub oak (Quercus
dumosa).  Nearly all of these dead fuels are consumed during fire.
Birchleaf mountain-mahogany, however, contains less volatile fats, oils,
and terpines than do many of its associates, and is therefore much less
flammable [15].  During prescribed fires in southern California, chamise
and manzanitas burned intensely, with 75 to 85 percent of live fuels
consumed, while only 45 percent of birchleaf mountain-mahogany live
fuels were consumed [14].

Birchleaf mountain-mahogany sprouts of fire origin are highly palatable
to deer and livestock.  Although birchleaf mountain-mahogany is
generally resistant to browsing, excessive browsing can kill new sprouts
[3,42].

Related categories for Species: Cercocarpus betuloides | Birchleaf Mountain-Mahogany