Silver birch
Betula pendula
Family: Betulaceae
Fire effect on plant
Fire top-kills silver birch. It can regenerate from fire both by resprouting and through seed dispersal (Atkinson 1992).
Key traits
Silver birch is a fast-growing, early successional pioneer tree species (More 1979) growing up to 25 m tall (Atkinson 1992). It has basal buds from which sprouting occurs as a response to fire and other damage (Kauppi, Rinne and Ferm 1987).
Its seeds are anemophilous and may travel long distances (hundreds and thousands of metres; Matlack 1992; Van der Pijl 1982). Seed germination is stimulated by light but not smoke or ash (Reyes et al 1997). Soil-stored seed appears to be killed by fire, and recruitment after fire appears to instead rely on dispersed seed (Hobbs, Mallik and Gimingham 1984).
Plant response to fire
Silver birch plays a vital role in the natural recovery of post-fire vegetation because this species frequently invades recently burned areas, which are ideal for seed germination and seedling establishment (Khoon and Gimingham 1984; Cabiaux and Devillez 1977). Invasion by birch usually follows burning on Scottish heaths (Hobbs, Mallik and Gimingham 1984).
Timing of life history
Long-lived perennial. On productive sites, time to maturity can be as little as 3-5 years. Flowers April to May.
Conservation status
None.
References
Atkinson M. D. 1992. Betula pendula Roth. (B. verrucosa Ehrh.) and B. pubescens Ehrh. Journal of Ecology 80: 837-870. [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Cabiaux, C. and Devillez, F. 1977. Etude de l'influence des facteurs du milieu sur la germination et la levee des plantules du bouleau pubescent. Bulletin de la Societe Royale Botanique de Belgique 110: 96-112. [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Davy, A.J. and Gill, J.A. 1984. Variation due to environment and heredity in birch transplanted between heath and bog. New Phytologist 97: 489-505. [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Hobbs, R.J., Mallik, A.U. and Gimingham, C.H. 1984. Studies on fire in Scottish heathland communities. III. Vital attributes of the species. Journal of Ecology 72: 963-976. [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Kauppi, A., Rinne, P. and Ferm, A. 1987. Initiation, structure and sprouting of dormant basal buds in Betula pubescens. Flora 179: 55-83. [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Khoon, W.G. and Gimingham, C.H. 1984. Birch regeneration in heath vegetation. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 85B: 73-81. [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Matlack G. R. 1992. Influence of fruit size and weight on wind dispersal in Betula lenta, a gap colonizing tree species. Am. Midl. Nat. 128: 30-39. [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Reyes, O., Casal, M. and Trabaud, L. 1997. The influence of population, fire and time of dissemination on the germination of Betula pendula seeds. Plant Ecology 133: 201–208. [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Van der Pijl, L. 1982. Principles of dispersal in higher plants. Springer-Verlag, Berlin. [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]