FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Ilex decidua | Deciduous Holly 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
Deciduous holly is damaged, top-killed, or killed by light- or
moderate-severity fires [27,36].  After two prescribed fires in
loblolly-shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata) stands, deciduous holly
exhibited moderate mortality (up to 50 percent) after fires in cut-over
sawtimber-sized stands, and low mortality after fires in pulpwood-sized
timber [33].  High mortality (up to 100 percent) of stems less than 1
inch (2.54 cm) in diameter occurred after winter prescribed fire in a
slash pine plantation [44].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
NO-ENTRY


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
The number of deciduous holly stems increased following prescribed
spring fires in loblolly-shortleaf pine stands.  Fruit production
increased following fire, but since there was also a large increase in
fruit production on control plots, it was difficult to separate the
effects of fire from other effects [36].

Numerous deciduous holly seedlings occured on loblolly-shortleaf pine
plots that received two prescribed fire treatments [33].  Nine years
after wildfire in a loblolly pine community, deciduous holly did not
occur on plots that had undergone surface fire only.  Plots where fire
crowning occurred were colonized by seedlings resulting from
animal-dispersed seed [27].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
NO-ENTRY


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
The mean, ash-free caloric value for deciduous holly leaves is 5,311
calories per gram.  This value can be used in calculations to predict
heat release during fire on sites with deciduous holly litter [12].

Related categories for Species: Ilex decidua | Deciduous Holly