Why does the lodgepole pine need fire?

Why does the lodgepole pine need fire?

So why do lodgepole pines like fire? It’s all about reproduction. As the name implies, all conifers reproduce from seeds that are housed in their cones. In the case of Rocky Mountain lodgepole pines, the seeds are located in cones on their uppermost branches.

Where do lodgepole pines grow best?

Lodgepole pine grows on a wide variety of soils, from water-logged organic soils to well-drained glacial outwashes. It grows best in moist soils derived from granite, shale, and coarse grained lavas. It also grows in soils with underlying hardpan.

Are lodgepole pines endangered?

Pinus contorta

Lodgepole pine
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes

How do you care for a lodgepole pine?

A young lodgepole pine needs to be watered well as soon as it has been planted. Water the tree thoroughly and deeply. Continue watering once a week throughout the first year. Deep and less frequent watering is better for the tree than frequent shallow watering, promoting deep root growth.

What happens to a lodgepole pine in a fire?

They die easily when a fire passes through. However, the serotinous cones give lodgepole pine a special advantage for spreading seeds for the next generation. These cones are closed tight with resin that melts during a fire and releases seeds that have been stored for years.

Do pine trees need fire?

To release their seeds, the cones of several evergreen trees such as pines, must be exposed to high temperatures to melt their waxy seals. Pine barrens are also home to rare and beautiful plants such as blazing star, wild lupine, and sandplain gerardia (an endangered species) that also need fire to reproduce.

Are lodgepole pines fast growing?

Growth Rate This tree grows at a slow to medium rate, with height increases of anywhere from less than 12″ to 24″ per year.

How long does a lodgepole pine take to grow?

Seed production begins at 5 to 10 years, and a good crop will appear every 1 to 3 years. Cones can remain on the tree for 10 to 20 years.

How long do lodgepole pines live?

150 to 200 years
The average lifespan of Rocky Mountain lodgepole pine is 150 to 200 years [37,170], though some Rocky Mountain lodgepole pine trees live more than 400 years [51,123,170,219,299].

How quickly does a lodgepole pine grow?

How long does a lodgepole pine live?

What eats a lodgepole pine?

Black bear, squirrels and porcupines are known to eat the cambium layer of lodgepole pine. Quite a few mammal and bird species eat the seeds, most notably red crossbills. Beetle attacked trees are targeted by woodpeckers that go after larvae.