Fathertime2000 t1_j5ucpig wrote
Since many tree species rely on fire for germination or to clear out competitors and encourage growth, do any of the pyrophytic plants express traits that encourage fire?
Prof_Fire OP t1_j5ufanl wrote
Yes! Many plants that have evolved with fire have traits that make them more flammable! For example, the long needles of longleaf pine are very flammable - their chemistry makes them more likely to ignite and burn. And the way they land on the understory creates a nice continuous layer of fuel that also allows oxygen to get in (a needed ingredient of fire). There are also fire-loving oaks that have flammability traits that encourage fire. The Mutch Hypothesis captures a lot of these ideas. We are still learning about the many fire traits that plants can have but we definitely see that our fire loving plants tend to encourage fire!
Fathertime2000 t1_j5uiqv4 wrote
Cool! Thanks!
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