FIRE ECOLOGY
SPECIES: Sassafras albidum | Sassafras 



FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS : 
Sassafras is moderately resistant to fire damage to aboveground growth.
It is also highly resilient to such damage; sassafras sprouts vigorously
following top-kill, even after repeated fires [54].  In Indiana,
sassafras occurs in black oak (Quercus velutina) stands with a mean fire
interval of 11.1 years [47].  Sassafras establishment on these sites
appears to be related to the frequency and severity of fire.  Sassafras
did not occur on sites which had burned more often (mean fire interval
of 5.2 years).  The stands with longer fire-free intervals burned more
severely than those with shorter intervals.  The more severe disturbance
probably created more favorable conditions for sassafras seedling
establishment [48].

An increase in the frequency of sassafras in New Jersey forests since
European settlement has been attributed, at least in part, to an
increase in fire frequency [73].

The bear oak type, in which sassafras frequently occurs, is a product of
periodic fire and droughty soils [44].  Sassafras also occurs in the
Table Mountain pine-pitch pine (Pinus rigida) type, another fire-adapted
community [42].

Sassafras bark is less resistant to heat than chestnut oak (Quercus
prinus), white oak (Q. alba), and northern red oak (Q. rubra); equally
as resistant as hickory and red maple (Acer rubrum); and more resistant
than witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana), fire cherry (Prunus
pensylvanica), serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.), and bear oak [20].


POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY : 
   Tree with adventitious-bud root crown/soboliferous species root sucker
   Ground residual colonizer (on-site, initial community)
   Initial-offsite colonizer (off-site, initial community)
   Crown residual colonizer (on-site, initial community)

Related categories for Species: Sassafras albidum | Sassafras