FIRE ECOLOGY
SPECIES: Chamaedaphne calyculata | Leatherleaf 



FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS : 
Leatherleaf's persistence in communities over long periods of time has
been attributed to its regeneration following fire [17].  Its rhizomes
are buried deep in the mineral soil and survive all but the most severe
fires [26].  Depth of rhizomes and season of fire affect leatherleaf
shoot growth and recovery.  Leatherleaf rhizomes were collected in
spring, summer, and autumn and subjected to wet heat treatments from 113
to 140 degrees Fahrenheit (45-60 deg C).  All autumn-collected rhizomes
died after treatment.  Summer-collected rhizomes produced fewer shoots
than spring-collected; both had significantly (p<0.05) fewer shoots than
the controls [27].

Bogs are usually too wet to burn except during drought [56].  Fire is a
primary factor disrupting boreal treed bog succession; leatherleaf
invades after fires remove the tree associations [9,22,28,33].
Recurrent fires at approximately 50-year intervals in New England
leatherleaf bogs or on peat surfaces controls tree invasion [53].  Fire
recurrence in a New Brunswick bog was 370 years [28].


POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY : 
   Rhizomatous low woody plant, rhizome in organic mantle
   Surface rhizome/chamaephytic root crown
   Rhizomatous shrub, rhizome in soil
   Secondary colonizer - off-site seed

Related categories for Species: Chamaedaphne calyculata | Leatherleaf