FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Pinus leiophylla var. chihuahuana | Chihuahua Pine 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
The immediate effects of fire on Chihuahua pine were not described in
the literature.  Chihuahua pine saplings and pole trees are probably
top-killed by fire and may be killed by severe fires.  Mature trees with
thick bark are probably unaffected by most fires.  Fire generally opens
serotinous and semiserotinous cones, and seed is released.  Root crowns
protected from fire by soil and surviving stumps probably sprout.


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
NO-ENTRY


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
Chihuahua pine established quickly from seed in recently burned oak
woodlands in Arizona [46].  Establishment may be delayed if moist and
protected microsites provided by nurse plants or other cover are not
available following severe fire.

Regeneration rates are increased by vigorous sprouting of surviving
Chihuahua pine.


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
NO-ENTRY


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Fire suppression has created crowded, stunted Chihuahua pine stands with
high amounts of tree litter and dead fuel in oak-pine communities of
Arizona.  Increased grazing has removed light surface fuels such as
grasses.  The potential for severe fire hazard exits in these
communities [44].

Dwarf mistletoe infection in Chihuahua pine may increase fire hazard
conditions partly due to increased numbers of dead trees [31].

Related categories for Species: Pinus leiophylla var. chihuahuana | Chihuahua Pine