FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Fremontodendron californicum | Flannelbush 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
Fire top-kills flannelbush; surviving lignotubers sprout following fire
[7,9,34,44].



DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
NO-ENTRY


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
All aboveground biomass of flannelbush was killed during a prescribed
fire in November 1980 in chaparral of southern California.  Two months
later, flannelbush had sprouted in a study site at 5,085 feet (1,550 m)
elevation.  By June 1981, flannelbush sprouts covered approximately
744.9 square feet per acre (171 sq m/ha) and seedling cover was 39.2
square feet per acre (9 sq m/ha) [25].

Flannelbush vigorously sprouted and rapidly grew during the first 6
years following mechanical clearing (1954) and prescribed fire (1955) in
mixed chaparral on the San Joaquin deer winter range in California.
Twenty-two years following a wildfire (1939) in a different area on the
winter range, flannelbush plants were numerous.  Surviving lignotubers
had sprouted, and plants had attained tree status [13].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
NO-ENTRY


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
In California, prescribed fire is used to improve grazing conditions in
woodland-grass chaparral cover types where flannelbush occurs [4].  Most
flannelbush utilization by browsing animals takes place during the first
2 years following fire when sprouting is greatest [37].

Related categories for Species: Fremontodendron californicum | Flannelbush