INFLUENCE OF SEASON OF FIRE ON FLOWERING OF WET PRAIRIE GRASSES IN SOUTH FLORIDA, USA

We measured the effects of prescribed fire during January (dormant season) and May (growing season) on flowering of three perennial grasses, muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris), gulfdune paspalum (Paspalum monostachyum), and south Florida bluestem (Schizachyrium rhizomatum), which are dominant grasses i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Wetlands (Wilmington, N.C.) N.C.), 2002-06, Vol.22 (2), p.430-434
Main Authors: Main, Martin B., Barry, Michael J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Controlled burning
Florida
Flowering
Grasses
Growing season
Muhlenbergia
Muhlenbergia capillaris
native grasses
Paspalum
Paspalum monostachyum
Prairies
prescribed burning
Prescribed fire
schhizachyrium rhizomatum
Schizachyrium rhizomatum
seasonal effects of fire
spring
wet prairie
wetland
wetlands
winter
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Summary:We measured the effects of prescribed fire during January (dormant season) and May (growing season) on flowering of three perennial grasses, muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris), gulfdune paspalum (Paspalum monostachyum), and south Florida bluestem (Schizachyrium rhizomatum), which are dominant grasses in wet prairies of south Florida, USA. Flowering was promoted by growing season fire but not by dormant season fire. Flowering was significantly greater for all species following prescribed fire conducted during May compared with areas burned during January of the same calendar year. The strong positive effect of growing season fire on flowering of all three species decreased after the first growing season. We rejected the hypothesis that season of fire did not influence flowering. Our results indicated that flowering by these dominant, wet prairie grasses is promoted by early growing season fire, which corresponds to historical patterns of lightning-ignited fire in south Florida.
ISSN:0277-5212
1943-6246
DOI:10.1672/0277-5212(2002)022[0430:IOSOFO]2.0.CO;2