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You are here >1Up Info > Wildlife, Animals, and Plants > Plant Species > Shrub > Species: Spiraea betulifolia | White Spirea
 

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BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS

SPECIES: Spiraea betulifolia | White Spirea
GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : White spirea is a native, moderately shade-tolerant, deciduous, rhizomatous shrub, with root development well into the soil profile [2,9,14,19,35,37]. White spirea has cinnamon-brown scaly bark on its erect stems, which are 1 to 3 feet (30-90 cm) tall [40]. The small flowers are gathered in nearly flat-topped clusters about 1.5 inches (4 cm) across. The flowers turn brown soon after fertilization and give way to small, dry, podlike fruits [32]. RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM : Undisturbed State: Cryptophyte (geophyte) Undisturbed State: Phanerophyte (nanophanerophyte) Burned or Clipped State: Cryptophyte (geophyte) REGENERATION PROCESSES : White spirea is rhizomatous and usually grows in extensive colonies [2,14,19,35]. Mechanical or natural disturbances rarely destroy the white spirea root system, which usually will resprout within the next growing season. White spirea stems often show signs of woody swellings due to the fusion of adjacent segments. Incipient perennating buds are well distributed along the entire length of the rhizome [2]. Any section of the rhizome is probably capable of generating new stems if it is large enough to provide the carbohydrates necessary for sprouting. White spirea also appears capable of some layering from aerial stems. Bradley [2] found a high proportion of white spirea perennating tissues residing in the mineral soil at an average depth of 4.4 inches (11.2 cm). White spirea produces small seeds that are occasionally dispersed via small birds, rodents, and strong winds. Overall seed production and dispersal is low. A soil seed-bank sampling study found white spirea to be the least represented shrub species [25]. Seedlings of white spirea are rarely found [35]. SITE CHARACTERISTICS : White spirea is common on brushy or open slopes, as well as in forests from the foothills through the montane zone. It is often abundant in low-elevation (1,000 to 4,000 feet [305-1,219 m]) dry forests, but can also be found in some high-elevation (10,000 feet [3,048 m]) wet forests [19,23,32]. White spirea grows well on dry, rocky sites because of its rhizomatous nature [15,32]. Soil moisture does not play a major role in the distribution and phenology of white spirea [14]. White spirea occupies forest habitat types associated with parent material ranging from limestone to quartz [6,28]. Aspect had a major influence on the survival of transplanted white spirea in northwestern Montana [21]. Survival was significantly lower on western aspects than on either southern or eastern aspects. SUCCESSIONAL STATUS : White spirea appears to be a satisfactory indicator plant for varying climatic conditions [14]. Descriptions of northern and central Idaho habitat types indicate that white spirea increased in importance as an indicator species in the slightly drier and warmer conditions found in ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir habitat types. White spirea's canopy cover declines gradually beneath a tree overstory, making it an indicator of late-seral to climax conditions. In drier portions of Douglas-fir/ninebark (Physocarpus malvaceus) habitat communities, which often border Douglas-fir/white spirea types, white spirea may persist as a climax component of the shrub layer. In much of the Douglas-fir/ninebark habitat type, however, white spirea gradually gives way to ninebark, making it a late seral indicator [35]. SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT : Seasonal development of white spirea is closely related to temperature [14]. In eastern Washington, white spirea developed up to 2 months later at higher elevations than at lower elevations [14]. Bud break generally occurs in April, and first bloom occurs anywhere from May to July. Phenological development was drastically retarded for transplanted white spirea (first bloom and seed production) in eastern Washington [14]. Seasonal progression of white spirea phenology does not relate well to calendar dates or photoperiodic tables, due to the temperature differences between elevational sites. Approximate timing of phenological events for white spirea at different elevations on the Entiat Experimental Forest, eastern Washington, from 1972 to 1973 were as follows [14]: Phenological Phase Elevation 590 m 1105 m 1635 m (1,935 ft) (3,624 ft) (5,363 ft) Bud Break late March early April late April 4-6 leaf development early April mid-April early May Floral initiation early May mid-May May-June First bloom May-June mid-June July Peak bloom mid-June early July July

Related categories for Species: Spiraea betulifolia | White Spirea

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Information Courtesy: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory. Fire Effects Information System

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