FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Sarcobatus vermiculatus | Black Greasewood 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
Black greasewood is described as "slightly damaged to unharmed" by fire.
Plants are rarely killed even when fire consumes aboveground vegetation
[65].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
NO-ENTRY


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
Vegetative response:  Black greasewood generally sprouts vigorously from
the stem base or roots following fire [9,65].  Rapid resprouting may
lead to an increase in stem density [65].  Black greasewood has
exhibited an increased growth rate and lengthened period of accelerated
growth after being partially killed by herbicides [49].  A similar
response may occur after the plant is partially killed by fire.

Seedling establishment:  Black greasewood can reoccupy a site through an
abundance of light, wind-dispersed seed [11,65].  Evidence suggests that
resprouted greasewood on disturbed sites produces more seed than plants
growing in adjacent undisturbed communities [49].  However, Young [65]
observed relatively poor seed production in the first year after fire.


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
Although most studies indicate that black greasewood is relatively
unharmed by fire, the degree of damage may vary according to season of
burn, fuel loading, and intensity of fire.  Following a fall fire in
Wyoming, Smith and others [54] noted that black greasewood exhibited
much greater mortality than would have been predicted on the basis of
its tendency to resprout.  This fire was quite intense due to high total
fuel loads [54].


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Many black greasewood communities will burn only during "very hazardous"
fire conditions because of limited fuels [7].

Related categories for Species: Sarcobatus vermiculatus | Black Greasewood