Question by Marley B: American Beech Trees in Canada- are they fire resistant?
I would like to know about anything interesting about the american beech tree (fagus grandifolia) especially whether they are fire resistant or if their seeds are fire resistant and if their habitat has fire (I’m interested in forest fires) but any other cool things about my favourite tree will be appreciated.
Best answer:
Answer by puadxe
We have these a lot in Michigan, we call them graffiti trees because people always carve their names into them.
“On the steepest, most fire sheltered lower north slopes, pure stands of
beech (Fagus grandifolia), the most fire-sensitive major tree species of the region, can be found. It is
often co-dominant with pignut hickory (Carya glabra), another fire-refugial species. Other tree species
included tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) and white oak. ”
-from: http://74.125.45.104/search?q=cache:AVMoQYcJRv0J:frames.nbii.gov/niftt/docs/bps/east/POHS.pdf+fagus+grandifolia+%22+fire+resistant%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=7&gl=us
“Beech is highly susceptible to fire due to its thin bark and shallow roots.” -http://74.125.45.104/search?q=cache:5Wd73DXBTLAJ:www.sterling-heights.net/bins/site/templates/splash.asp%3Fmenu_imagesetid%3D1%26area_2%3Dpages/gov/citydepts/naturecenter/clintonrivertreeguide/northclintonriverparktreeguide_2004.dat%26area_1%3Dpages/nav/gov/citydepts/naturecenter/naturecenter.dat%26area_3%3D0.dat%26area_0%3D0.dat%26area_8%3D0.dat%26objectid%3DB23962350%26ml_index%3D0%26NC%3D4632X+fagus+grandifolia+”+fire+resistant”&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=16&gl=us
another:
http://74.125.45.104/search?q=cache:4D80fhMEerYJ:www.gardenguides.com/plants/plant.asp%3Fsymbol%3DFAGR+fagus+grandifolia+%22+fire+resistant%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us
Sorry I don’t really have any personal experience, not many forest fires in Michigan. I’d check the sources of those and see which is the most reliable. Here’s a site with recommended fire resistant trees, and beech is on there: http://pnwfireprevention.com/prevention/plants/trees.shtml So I don’t really know what to tell you.
What do you think? Answer below!