FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Tetradymia spinosa | Spiny Horsebrush 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
Spiny horsebrush occurs on dry sites where fuels are usually
insufficient to carry a fire [9,14].  The effect of fire on shrubs is
more damaging than that on forbs and grasses.  Fire not only destroys
herbage but also the stored reserves of shrubs [3].  Spiny horsebrush is
considered a fire-resistant species, as there is a 65 percent or greater
chance that at least 50 percent of a population will survive or
reestablish after a fire [12,14].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
NO-ENTRY


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
Spiny horsebrush, which is capable of resprouting and rapid regrowth
after fire, is favored over other plants that reestablish only by seed
[2].  Postfire regeneration response is considered rapid, with 2 to 5
years required to approximate preburn frequency or cover [12].  Plants
quickly regain and surpass their original size.  The amount of sprouting
is affected by season and soil moisture, as these are factors which
contribute to burning intensity [3].

After a fire, crown-sprouting spiny horsebrush may initially dominate
sagebrush ranges.  Postfire sprouting from rhizomes may result in a one
to one replacement ratio at best, whereas sprouting from root buds may
result in more than one replacement plant [Young pers. comm. 1987].  In
addition to the vigorous postburn production of root crown sprouts,
spiny horsebrush also exhibits dynamic postfire seedling establishment
[7].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
NO-ENTRY


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
NO-ENTRY

Related categories for Species: Tetradymia spinosa | Spiny Horsebrush