FIRE ECOLOGY
SPECIES: Cupressus macnabiana | Macnab Cypress 



FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS : 
MacNab cypress is a fire-adapted, fire-dependent species.  Successful
cypress (Cupressus spp.) reproduction is generally restricted to burned
sites [27].  The serotinous cones persist on the trees for years [25].
Cone opening is erratic, slow, and almost negligible except when cones
are exposed to extreme heat; then it is rapid and uniform [25].  When
opened by the heat of a fire, the seeds fall on exposed mineral soil
[14,24].  Most seed falls in the first few months following fire [25].
Fires that occur in late summer and fall and are followed by winter
rains ensure seed dissemination on bare mineral substrates [27].  No
information was available on fire-free intervals for communities
dominated by MacNab cypress.  However, Tecate cypress (Cupressus
guadalupenis var. forbesii), a cypress found in southern California,
has an average interval between fires of 25 years, ranging from 15 to 63
years [2].  Cypress trees of southern California generally reach
cone-bearing age before another fire occurs [27].


POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY : 
   Tree without adventitious-bud root crown
   Crown residual colonizer (on-site, initial community)
   Initial-offsite colonizer (off-site, initial community)

Related categories for Species: Cupressus macnabiana | Macnab Cypress