Thistles
Cirsium spp.
Family: Asteraceae
Examples: C. dissectum, C. helenioides
Fire effect on plant
Thistles are likely top-killed by fire and resprout vegetatively after (Zouhar 2001; Gucker 2009).
Key traits
Thistles are able to both survive fire on site and to colonize recently burned sites with exposed bare soil (Stickney and Cambell 2000). The extensive root system gives them the ability to survive even severe fire (Young 1986). Thistles can produce an abundant, flammable aboveground biomass that readily ignites (Hogenbirk and Wein 1995).
Clonal propagation is the dominant form of reproduction with seedling establishment rare in the field (de Vere 2007).
Plant response to fire
Thistles tolerate and can be enhanced by fire (Young 1986). Thistles also have the potential to increase fire frequency and perhaps severity as a result of its abundant and readily ignited litter (Hogenbirk and Wein 1995).
Timing of life history
Long-lived perennials. In productive sites, thistles can flower in the second year at the earliest. Flowers May to August.
Conservation status
None.
References
Gucker, C. L. 2009. Cirsium palustre. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/forb/cirpal/all.html [2024, January 24]. [Expert opinion; Grey literature]
Hogenbirk, J. C., Wein, R. W. 1995. Fire in boreal wet-meadows: implications for climate change. In: Cerulean, Susan I.; Engstrom, R. Todd, eds. Fire in wetlands: a management perspective: Proceedings, 19th Tall Timbers fire ecology conference; 1993 November 3-6; Tallahassee, FL. No. 19. Tallahassee, FL: Tall Timbers Research Station: 21-29. [Expert opinion; Grey literature]
Stickney, P.F., R.B. Campbell Jr. 2000. Database for early post-fire succession in northern Rocky Mountain forests. USDA Forest Service General Technical Report RMRS-GTR61CD, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Ogden, Utah, USA. [Empirical evidence; Grey literature]
De Vere, N. 2007. Biological Flora of the British Isles: Cirsium dissectum (L.) Hill (Cirsium tuberosum (L.) All. subsp. anglicum (Lam.) Bonnier; Cnicus pratensis (Huds.) Willd., non Lam.; Cirsium anglicum (Lam.) DC.). Journal of Ecology 95: 876-894 [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Young, R. P. 1986. Fire ecology and management in plant communities of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Portland, OR: Oregon State University. 169 p. Thesis. [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Zouhar, K. 2001. Cirsium arvense. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/forb/cirarv/all.html [2024, January 24]. [Expert opinion; Grey literature]