What is the effect of fire on young longleaf pines?

Question

What is the effect of fire on young longleaf pines?

Answer 1

The effect of fire on young longleaf pine is that in most cases the competition of these young pines is removed while the pines suffer no ill consequences. (in an ideal burn of course.)

Answer 2

All longleaf pines, Pinus palustris are adapted to frequent low intensity fire. Relevant adaptations include:

a deep taproot and a definite grass stage, which permit seedlings to lose foliage and yet survive low intensity fires (an adaptation also found in various other pines, notably P. engelmannii in Arizona);

profuse production and shedding of needles and ready shedding of lower limbs, which provide a rapid accumulation of fine fuels, sufficient to support ground fires at frequencies as often as 3 years;

an extremely flammable heartwood and sapwood shielded by a relatively fire-resistant bark. Consequently, snags and large dead wood accumulations are rare. ( cit. )

More details ( FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS, POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY ):

http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plant...