FIRE ECOLOGY
SPECIES: Robinia pseudoacacia | Black Locust 



FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS : 
Black locust sprouts rapidly from the roots and/or bole after top-kill
by fire [32,69].  Black locust vegetatively invades burned sites if it
is present in the adjacent, unburned forest [32].  Annual or very
frequent fire probably removes black locust from the community by
preventing sprouts from reaching fire-resistant size.  In New York,
black locust communities have formed within the pine barren (pitch pine
[Pinus rigida] and bear oak [Quercus ilicifolia]) habitat type on
abandoned farm land.  This habitat type was historically subject to
moderately frequent fire, although fires have been suppressed in recent
times.  In the absence of fire, shade tolerant hardwoods replace black
locust, pitch pine, and bear oak [62].

Patterson [67] noted that the small leaflets of black locust in the
litter layer tend to lie flat and stay damp (in contrast to oak and
maple leaves, which crinkle up and dry out), effectively slowing surface
fires.


POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY : 
   Tree with adventitious-bud root crown/soboliferous species root sucker

Related categories for Species: Robinia pseudoacacia | Black Locust