FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Toxicodendron rydbergii | Western Poison-Ivy 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
Information concerning the effect of fire on western poison-ivy has not
been widely documented.  Although aerial portions are readily killed by
burning, the presence of rhizomes suggests that this species is somewhat
resistant to fire mortality.  Western poison-ivy may be damaged by
severe fire.  In a ponderosa pine stand in South Dakota, western
poison-ivy was not a component of the postburn community 5 years after
an intense crown fire; unfortunately no prefire data were taken for this
site [3].  Although rhizome depth has not been reported for western
poison-ivy, these data suggest that rhizomes may be located within the
top inch (2.5 cm) of soil where perennating buds are more susceptible to
damage from downward heat pulses generated by severe fires [3].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
NO-ENTRY


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
Following fire western poison-ivy resprouts via surviving perennating
buds located along much-branched rhizomes [3].  Review of the literature
revealed only one study dealing with fire response of western
poison-ivy.  Bock and Bock [3] found that western poison-ivy regained
prefire densities by the first postfire growing season following spring
and fall prescribed, cool, surface fires in the pine-grassland ecotone
of the southern Black Hills.  Apparently burning did not initiate
vigorous sprouting in this species; no significant increase in stem
density was recorded during two postfire growing seasons.  Compared with
prefire measurements, average plant heights following fire were shorter;
however, prefire and postfire crown widths were not significantly
different [2].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
NO-ENTRY


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
NO-ENTRY

Related categories for Species: Toxicodendron rydbergii | Western Poison-Ivy