Cow-berry or Lingon-berry

Key traits

Resprouting in lingonberry occurs from rhizomes and adventitious root crown and buds. This species has abundant branched underground stems buried 2 to 3 cm deep in the soil humus (Viereck et al. 1980) and the rhizomes of lingonberry have been observed to survive in soil where the surface temperature reached 438oC (Uggla 1959).

The seeds of lingonberry are considered to be heat-sensitive and are usually destroyed by fire (Viereck et al. 1980), although other evidence suggests that heating improves germination (Mallik and Gimingham 1985). Lingonberry seed germination has been shown to improve upon heating with 98% of seeds germinating following heat treatment at 100oC for 30s within 9 weeks of heating (Mallik and Gimingham 1985). Seeds are animal dispersed. Seedbank longevity is unknown.

Plant response to fire

Lingonberry is known to persist in regimes with frequent fires and in areas that rarely burn (Tirmentein 1991). However, despite this it is reported as a fire-prone species requiring repeated fire for its maintenance (Engelmark 1987). Following fire, lingonberry has been noted to grow vigorously and can increases cover after fire by resprouting from rhizomes and adventitious roots and buds on charred stems (Engelmark 1987). This is supported by burning experiments that looked at regrowth of lingonberry where vegetative regrowth occurred even though the tops of the plants were heated and burned in series of experiments at 400, 600 and 800oC for 2 mins (Mallik and Gimingham 1985). Remaining stem material can resprout following fire and buried rhizomes resprout within a year, with abundance recovered after a few growing seasons (Wein and Bliss 1973).

Timing of life history

Perennial species. Seeds likely produced from third or fourth growing season (Fernqvist 1977). Flowering May to July.