FIRE ECOLOGY
SPECIES: Juniperus ashei | Ashe Juniper 



FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS : 
Ashe juniper is not well adapted to fire.  Its thin bark is easily
damaged by fire; the foliage often hangs near the ground, increasing the
risk of damage by ground fires; and it is nonsprouting.  Small stems
(less than 1 inch [2.5 cm] in diameter) are easily killed by fire [56].
Mature trees in moderate to dense stands are resistant to fire.  Fine
fuels in such stands are usually not sufficient to carry fire, and the
trees are usually far enough apart to prevent fire being carried from
crown to crown [56].

Historically, Ashe juniper was restricted to dissected uplands and
ridges that acted as fire refugia.  With the suppression of fire and
poor rangeland management in the past 100 years or so, Ashe juniper has
colonized large areas of adjacent grassland [33,42,48].  Ashe juniper is
readily controlled by prescribed fire.


POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY : 
   Tree without adventitious-bud root crown
   Secondary colonizer - off-site seed

Related categories for Species: Juniperus ashei | Ashe Juniper