Woodsage
Teucrium scorodonia
Family: Lamiaceae
Fire effect on plant
Woodsage is likely topkilled but belowground rhizomes may survive fire.
Key traits
Woodsage is a perennial herb with stems arising from a frequently branching underground rhizome (Hutchinson, 1968). The ability to resprout after fire is not described directly for woodsage, but it has been demonstrated in several Teucrium species that also possess belowground rhizomes (Ojeda et al, 1996; Arianoutsou & Ne'eman, 2000; Alberdi & Cavero, 2002; Buhk & Hensen, 2006). Resprouting from rhizomes in woodsage is reported in response to other disturbances, such as severe frost and drought (Hutchinson, 1968).
The response of woodsage seeds to fire in not described. However seeds are viable for up to 5-6 years, and so the creation of a soil-stored seedbank is possible (Hutchinson, 1968). Seed production can be considerable (48,000 seeds per plant per year; Hutchinsom, 1968). Seeds are shaken out from the parental shoot to a distance of 1 m (Hutchinsom, 1968).
Plant response to fire
How fire affects woodsage populations is unclear. Woodsage is shade-tolerant (Hutchinson 1968), so does not require fire to maintain an open canopy, but may benefit from reduced competition.
Timing of life history
Perennial species. Seeds likely produced from second growing season. Flowering July to September.
Conservation status
None.
References
Alberdi, L., Cavero, Y. (2002). Effect of fire on the understorey species of a Quercus ilex L. subsp. ballota (Desf.) Samp. forest in Navarra, Spain. Pages 25-32 in L. Trabaud and R. Prodon, editors. Fire and biological processes. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, The Netherlands. [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Arianoutsou, M., Ne'eman, G. (2000). Post-fire regeneration of natural Pinus halepensis forest in the east Mediterranean basin. Pages 269-289 in G. Ne'eman, L. Trabaud, editors. Ecology, biogeography and management of Pinus halepensis and P. brutia forest ecosystems in the Mediterranean basin. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, The Netherlands. [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Buhk, C., Hensen, I. (2006). Fire seeders during early post-fire succession and their quantitative importance in south-eastern Spain. Journal of Arid Environments 66: 193-209. [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Hutchinson, T. C. (1968). Teucrium Scorodonia L. Journal of Ecology, 56(3), 901–911. [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Ojeda, F., Marañón, T., Arroyo, J. (1996). Postfire regeneration of a mediterranean heathland in southern Spain. International Journal of Wildland Fire 6: 191-198. [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]