FIRE ECOLOGY
SPECIES: Chamaecyparis lawsoniana | Port-Orford-Cedar 



FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS : 
Although young Port-Orford-cedar trees are easily killed by fire,
relatively old trees are very fire resistant because their bark may be
up to 10 inches (25 cm) thick.  It is apparently less fire resistant
than Douglas-fir, Ponderosa pine, sugar pine, Jeffrey pine, and
incense-cedar, but more fire resistant than true firs and hemlocks
[27,37].  Many vigorous old trees show evidence of repeated burning and
have large fire scars [8,37].  A stump in Oregon that was 21 inches (54
cm) in diameter and 285 years old had fire scars at 35, 183, and 228
years [37]. Some fires have removed all but a thin, incomplete outer
shell of wood and bark at the tree base, yet trees remain healthy [37].
These surviving trees provide a seed source for postfire seedling
establishment.  Pole-sized trees have moderate fire resistance and can
probably withstand ground fires [37].

Port-Orford-cedar drops much less litter on the forest floor than
Douglas-fir [1].  Fire frequency is partially dependent upon this fuel
accumulation. Atzet [1] rated the likelihood of fire occurring under
different conifer stands as follows:

                        Less Likely
                        -----------              
                        red fir 
                        Jeffery pine
                        Port-Orford-cedar
                        tanoak
                        Douglas-fir
                        white fir
                        -----------
                        More Likely

On inland sites Port-Orford-cedar mostly occurs along stream channels,
boggy drainages, other moist topographic concavities or north aspects
[3].  These sites have a low probability of fire carrying after ignition
[2].


POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY : 
   crown-stored residual colonizer; short-viability seed in on-site cones
   off-site colonizer; seed carried by wind; postfire years 1 and 2

Related categories for Species: Chamaecyparis lawsoniana | Port-Orford-Cedar