FIRE ECOLOGY
SPECIES: Larrea tridentata | Creosotebush 



FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS : 
Creosotebush is poorly adapted to fire because of its limited sprouting
ability [59,115].  Creosotebush survives some fires that burn patchily
or are of low severity [87,115].  Historically, infrequent fires may
have limited the invasion of desert grasslands by creosotebush [59].

Most fires in the desert are infrequent and of low severity because
production of annual and perennial herbs seldom provides a fuel load
capable of sustaining fire.  Humphrey [59] stated that the
creosotebush-white bursage community is "essentially nonflammable"
because the shrubs are too sparse to carry fire.  The resinous foliage
of creosotebush, however, is very flammable.


POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY : 
   Secondary colonizer - off-site seed
   Tall shrub, adventitious-bud root crown

Related categories for Species: Larrea tridentata | Creosotebush