FIRE ECOLOGY
SPECIES: Ungnadia speciosa | Mexican Buckeye 



FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS : 
Wright [24] notes that fires have historically been relatively
unimportant in the Chihuahuan Desert, which is dominated by shrubs
rather than grasses.  Mexican buckeye often occurs in deciduous riparian
woodlands, which burn infrequently.

It is not known whether Mexican buckeye possesses specific adaptations
to fire.  However, the majority of shrubs indigenous to southwestern
Texas sprout readily from the root crown after fire [10].  Mexican
buckeye coppices from the root crown after mechanical removal [19], and
postfire sprouting is possible.  Natural seedling establishment is
extremely rare [19], but limited seedling establishment from off-site
sources may occur in unusually moist years.


POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY : 
   survivor species; on-site surviving root crown or caudex
   off-site colonizer; seed carried by animals or water; postfire yr 1&2

Related categories for Species: Ungnadia speciosa | Mexican Buckeye