FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Salvia mellifera | Black Sage 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
Black sage is a fire-sensitive species that may suffer significant
postburn mortality [16,21,62].  Perennating buds on the root crown are
presumably very near the soil surface and are susceptible to fire
damage.  Initial estimates of the belowground heat tolerance of black
sage indicate that root crowns fail to resprout at fire reaction
intensities over 200 kcal/sec/m sq [55].  Black sage is likely to
survive the majority of fires in Venturan and Riversidian coastal sage
scrub communities (calculated fire reaction intensities of 170 to 200
kcal/sec/m sq) but substantial mortality can be expected following
higher intensity chaparral fires [21,53].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
NO-ENTRY


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
Postfire regeneration in black sage involves a combination of sprout
regeneration and seedling recruitment [20].  Predominant mode of
postburn reestablishment varies geographically [20].  Postfire recovery
within coastal sage scrub communities is primarily through sprouting
[55,63].  Westman and others [55] found that sprouting potential of
coastal sage scrub species is generally greater on lower elevation,
maritime sites than at high elevations inland.  They indicate that
ecotypic variation may be responsible for this differencial sprouting
response.  Following higher severity chaparral fires, black sage is
usually a nonsprouter and relies on the previously dormant seed bank for
rapid postburn establishment [21,24,62].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
NO-ENTRY


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
NO-ENTRY

Related categories for Species: Salvia mellifera | Black Sage