Summer 2005

Wiregrass Supports Fire

Wiregrass (Aristida beyrichiana) is named for its long narrow leaves, which roll in at the margins to give a wirelike appearance. Wiregrass depends on summer burning to stimulate flowering and seed production, and plays an important part in moving fire through the longleaf forest. When longleaf pine needles fall, they are held up by overlapping bunches of wiregrass, allowing air to circulate at the forest floor level. Fire then spreads easily through clumps of highly flammable wiregrass and longleaf pine needles.

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