Ancient Tree Stumps Shed New Light on Fire in Florida

[_Keith]

Read a cool Article about the history of these palmly lands and what the palms endure in nature, and in this case, by the hands of man.

http://blog.nature.org/science/files/2015/06/IMG_7137-copy.jpg

[Dave-Vero]

Those creeping saw palmettos (Serenoa repens) are likely to be almost geologically old. Some clever research at Archbold Biological Station identified genetic individuals by their DNA fingerprints, then all growth tips in a given area were identified and mapped. Since the growth rate is fairly constant, it was possible to determine minimum ages for genetic individuals (genets, to be technical). First study got plants to 10,000 years old, I think the second got considerably older.

So some of our saw palmettos were living when Florida had ground sloths, mastodons and glyptodonts.

There is every reason to believe that saw palmettos occur almost entirely in areas where fire has always been frequent, at least every few years. Florida's climate brings a lot of lightning at the end of dry season, just before the summer rains begin, and fires would cover vast areas. The palm leaves, along with associated grasses, burn well but at relatively low temperatures. After a fire, lots of flowers, including abundant ground orchids that flower only after fire.

[avanza]

So Sad.

[redbeard917]

Here is a link to the article.

http://blog.nature.org/science/2015/06/29/ancient-tree-stumps-fire-florida-longleaf-pine-forests/

[redbeard917]

So Sad.

I'm not sure if you're referring to the burning of the palms, but for those who don't know, it doesn't kill them.

[JLeVert]

Here's after one of those brush fires:

[Coconutman]

I remember whole Serenoa repens fields burning in the winter near where I used to live.The underground rhizomes are still protected from the blaze during a fire and whole plants come back stronger even flowered after.

[PalmatierMeg]

Thirty years ago when I first visited FL most people considered them spiny "weeds" that should be eradicated wherever they grew. Now cities plant them along roads and in parks as fine examples of native vegetation. I never knew they could live so long.

[Yunder Wækraus]

Thank you for sharing

[NorthFlpalmguy]

They actually look a little more clean and desirable to me when you trim them (or they burn them). They are highly desirable these days and nurseries can't grow enough of them.

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

http://digitalcommons.bucknell.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1037&context=fac_journ

[rick]

http://digitalcommons.bucknell.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1037&context=fac_journ

Wow I had no idea they grew that slowly. Gives me a much greater appreciation for the giant ones in my neighborhood.

[Dave-Vero]

Thanks for the link!

Here's a dry prairie. All photos are at Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park, January 2014

Also Kissimmee Prairie, where a fire had burned into some Sabal palmetto. They are relatively fire resistant, but current burning policy is to reduce S. palmetto, which had proliferated during periods of reduced fire frequency.

Serenoa repens regrowing.

[PalmWarbler]

It's amazing just how quickly they sprout back up after a burn. It's actually a very beautiful sight, seeing the bright green new leaves against a blackened background. And boy does it bring in the wildlife too!