Seed Production of Wiregrass in Central Florida Following Growing-Season Prescribed Burns

Abstract

Wiregrass (Aristida stricta Michx.) is a major species in the long leaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) sandhills areas of central Florida, providing a major portion of the fuel for the recurring ground fires necessary to maintain the community. Growing season burning promotes flower and seed production. The objective of this study was to assess the seed production potential of wiregrass following prescribed burns from May through August. Four longleaf wiregrass sites were prescribed burned, one each in May, June, July, and August. Information on bunch size, bunch density, seed stalk density, seed density, and seed germination were collected. The four sites differed significantly in the density of wiregrass bunches, average bunch size, wiregrass cover and seed viability. The density of seed stalks was fairly consistent across sites. Viable seed production was lowest on the June burned site and highest on the July burned site. The study shows good quantities of seed are comparatively easy to produce with growing season bums.