FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Casuarina spp. | Australian Pine 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
Trees greater than 3 inches (8 cm) in diameter are killed by fire [3].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
A May wildfire killed 60 to 70 percent of Australian pine in Florida
[10].  A smoldering controlled burn in Florida killed 90 percent of the
Australian pines on the study plot [14].  A second attempt in the same
area killed all the Australian pines; trunk diameters were between 5 and
8 inches (13-20 cm).  Another tree, with a d.b.h. of 2 feet (0.66 m),
was killed after charcoal was left to smolder at its base [14].


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 


Trees less than 3 inches (8 cm) in diameter may sprout following fire.
Trees larger than this usually die [3,14].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
NO-ENTRY


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Periodic fires coupled with the use of herbicides may be an effective
method of controlling Australian pine.  However, too frequent, intense
fires that kill overstory native pines may actually encourage Casuarina
species to establish [18].  Morton [14] warns that burning Australian
pine in peat soils may be hazardous.  Elfer [3] suggests that fire may
be an effective control method for trees greater than 3 inches (8 cm) in
diameter and in dense stands.  Burning could be potentially harmful if
the soil pH is changed such that native species cannot establish [3].

Related categories for Species: Casuarina spp. | Australian Pine