FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Platanus occidentalis | Sycamore 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
Surface fires in the bottomland forests in which sycamore occurs readily
kill saplings and seedlings of all species.  Larger trees are wounded by
fire; fire wounds act as vectors of disease, increasing rot and
decreasing plant vigor [57,61].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
NO-ENTRY


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
Sycamore is unlikely to be a major pioneer on burned sites.  On
bottomlands, rapid growth of competing weeds and vines would reduce
sycamore establishment, and burned upland sites are usually too dry for
good seedling establishment.  Only one published report of sycamore
seedlings on a burned site is available.  In North Carolina, an oldfield
loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) stand experienced both surface and crown
fire.  Sycamore seedlings were present in small numbers on the crown
fire plots, indicating that moisture and light conditions were
sufficient for sycamore seedling establishment [60].  Top-killed
sycamore will sprout; it is unlikely, however, that a fire severe enough
to kill the aboveground portions will not also kill the shallow roots.



DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
NO-ENTRY


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
In the Southeast, the usual fire season is fall; fire years occur
when the usual summer drought extends into autumn and early winter.
Most fires are accidentally caused by humans [61].

Prescribed fire is not recommended for southeastern bottomland forests
in which sycamore occurs; aside from damaging and killing trees, fire
reduces soil organic layers, leading to site degradation.  Following
fire, weeds and vines flourish on exposed sites, increasing competition
with tree seedlings that may establish after fire [57,61].

Sycamore had a significantly lower proportion of its stem weight in bark
than any of the other species tested.  In the soft hardwoods group (red
maple, sweetgum, sycamore, and yellow-poplar [Liriodendron tulipifera]),
sycamore had the highest average total-tree moisture content of any
species tested [20].  A formula to estimate recoverable heat energy in
wood or bark fuels is available [86].

Related categories for Species: Platanus occidentalis | Sycamore