Harebell
Campanula rotundifolia
Family: Campanulaceae
Fire effect on plant
Harebells are likely top-killed by fire, with belowground rhizomes surviving.
Key traits
Harebell is a rhizomatous perennial herb with a creeping, slender, elongated and much branched rootstock which produces adventitious buds. A white tap root is also occasionally present. Plants generally overwinter as frost-resistant green rosettes.
Harebells also spread by seed although seed dispersal distances are short (Stevens et al, 2012). Seed bank longevity appear to short (less than 1 year up to 5 years; Thompson et al, 1997). Fire effects on seed viability are not described.
Plant response to fire
In tests of the ecological effects of heather burning in Scottish moorland Mallik & Gimingham (1985) found that C. rotundifolia can regenerate from underground perennating organs which escape the effects of fire.
Timing of life history
A perennial. Seeds produced from second growing season. Flowering July to September.
Conservation status
None.
References
Mallik, A.U. & Gimingham, C.H. (1985) Ecological effects of heather burning: II. Effects on seed germination and vegetative regeneration. Journal of Ecology, 73, 633–644. [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Stevens, C.J., Wilson, J. and McAllister, H.A. (2012), Biological Flora of the British Isles: Campanula rotundifolia. Journal of Ecology, 100: 821-839. [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Thompson K, Bakker J P, Bekker R M. 1997. Soil seed banks of NW Europe: methodology,density and longevity. Cambridge University Press. 276 pp [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]