Bog-rushes
Schoenus spp.
Family: Cyperaceae
Examples: S. ferrugineus, S. nigricans
Fire effect on plant
Mature bog-rushes are likely top-killed by fire, but basal buds survive.
Key traits
Mature bog-rushes have basal buds that are protected by sheathing leaf bases in even high-severity fires (Dawkins 1939), but seedlings are extremely susceptible to burning.
Bog-rushes can have persistent soil-stored seed banks (Tatár 2010), which may support recruitment after fire. Seed dispersal tends to be low with no specialized dispersal mechanism; seeds are retained in the inflorescence for up to a year.
Plant response to fire
Bog-rushes are highly resistant to fire and may benefit from burning because it removes dead biomass and reduce competition.
Timing of life history
Perennial species. Seeds likely produced from second growing season. Flowering July to October.
Conservation status
None.
References
Tatár, S. 2010. Seed longevity and germination characteristics of six fen plant species. Acta Biol Hung. 61: 197-205. [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Dawkins, C.J. (1939) Tussock Formation by Schoenus Nigricans: The Action of Fire and Water Erosion. Journal of Ecology 27: 1, pp. 78-88 [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]