Bearberries

Key traits

Bearberry species are deep-rooted (~1 m depth) shrubs (Nimlos et al. 1968). They largely reproduce via adventitious roots that reach through the duff layer or as creeping stems (McClearn 1968), which develop latent buds. They have adventitious root crown and buds (Crane 1991).
 
Bearberry seeds have a hard seed coat and are stored in the seedbank relatively near to the surface. Bearberry is able to establish from seedbanks following fire however, on tests of seed heating (50-100oC for 1-2min) Bearberry seeds were not encouraged to germinate with heat (Mallick and Gimingham, 1985). Hence whilst the seeds appear to be heat resistant there do not appear to be heat stimulated. Seeds are animal dispersed.

Plant response to fire

Bearberry is a resprouting species that thrives in short fire-return intervals of low-intensity fires that keep fuel load low (Rowe 1983; Crane 1991). It can resprout from latent buds on creeping stems, adventitious buds on the stem base and from the root crown although the root crown can be susceptible to fire (Crane 1991). Rowe (1983) characterized bearberry as a fire-endurer. Indeed, considerable sprouting and vegetative regrowth of bearberry has been noted to occur 3 months after an experimental fire where the temperature reached 600oC. However, sprouting and vegtative regrowth nearly halved in fires that were measured to reach ~800oC (Mallick and Gimingham 1985). In Scotland, where subject to fire, bearberry develops more latent buds on underground creeping stems such that it is suggested repeated (fire) damage can actually enhance its ability to regenerate (Mallick and Gimingham 1985), suggesting that perhaps there is a fire developed ecotype of this species occupying areas with frequent fire or repeated controlled burns. Hence, some populations of this species have a fire-driven evolutionary adaptation to fire.

Timing of life history

Perennial species. Seeds likely produced from second growing season. Flowering March to June.