FIRE ECOLOGY
SPECIES: Prosopis velutina | Velvet Mesquite 



FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS : 
Velvet mesquite plants contain numerous, dormant buds on an underground
stem.  Soil and rough bark sufficiently insulate the buds from the heat
of most fires [22,51].  Even 8-month-old seedlings have sufficiently
developed underground stem buds to allow some plants to survive burning
[19].  Following top-killing fires, numerous sprouts arise from the
underground buds.

Numerous wild and domestic animals consume and disperse velvet mesquite
seed.  Seed from off-site plants can be transported to burned areas by
animals.


POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY : 
   Geophyte, growing points deep in soil
   Initial-offsite colonizer (off-site, initial community)

Related categories for Species: Prosopis velutina | Velvet Mesquite