Pollination, Reproduction, and Fire

Abstract

Separate and usually mutually exclusive suites of adaptations are found in fire-adapted trees and shrubs that have evolved in habitats prone to fire. Two adaptive strategies in chaparral communities have been distinguished: one strategy is for the plant to mature quickly and set large numbers of seeds, which are often stimulated to germination by fire, which kills the parent; the 2nd strategy is for the plant to survive the fire and resprout from a tuber or other underground storage organ. A 3rd strategy of fire adaptation, survival by protective bark and growth habits that prevent crown fires in forests, was added. Mature-die and resprout strategies were discussed for the genera Pinus and Arctostaphylos, and the species Banksia ornata, B. marginata, B. ericifolia and B. spinulosa.