FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Morus rubra | Red Mulberry 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
Red mulberry is probably easily killed by fire due to its thin bark and
shallow roots.  Information on the relationship of the intensity of fire
to red mulberry mortality is lacking in the available literature.


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
NO-ENTRY


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
In Missouri a late spring wildfire occurred in 1966 in a fully stocked,
23-year-old stand of white oak, red oak, and hickory.  The stand had
developed following a 1943 fire.  The 1966 fire top-killed almost all
trees, but left a few survivors (both from the 23-year age class and
survivors of the earlier fire).  Small red mulberry plants occurred in
low numbers prior to the 1966 fire (17 stems per acre [42 stems/ha]),
but increased to 120 stems per acre (302 stems/ha) 10 growing seasons
after the fire [21].  In North Carolina red mulberry did not occur in
unburned loblolly pine-shortleaf pine stands.  Nine growing seasons
after surface or crown fires, however, it was present in low densities
[25].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
NO-ENTRY


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Reduction of hardwood competition (including red mulberry) in pine
stands can be accomplished through prescribed fires [31].

Related categories for Species: Morus rubra | Red Mulberry