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Similarly, trees like Longleaf pine, Giant sequoia, and Coast redwood have adapted to not only tolerate but thrive through fire. Some even require fire to repro

Similarly, trees like Longleaf pine, Giant sequoia, and Coast redwood have adapted to not only tolerate but thrive through fire. Some even require fire to reproduce.

cjs_ac 2y ago
Australian eucalyptus trees also require fire to reproduce. The oil in the leaves is there to intensify the fire, destroying competing species.
- contingencies 2y ago
  Not true. There are many eucalypts. Some benefit from fire. Others benefit from cold. Most require neither and some probably require different seed release or germination stimuli. A primary evolutionary purpose of the oils seems to be as a pathogen resistance measure, being antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal.
deleted 2y ago
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dkjaudyeqooe 2y ago
Also Xanthorrhoea which is adapted to fire but doesn't require it.
jfarlow 2y ago
Serotiny: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotiny https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotiny
contingencies 2y ago
Card carrying member of the Australian Plant Society here! Prior to flowering plants (Angiospermae; 140MYA) we had ferns (Polypodiopsida; 360MYA) and Fungi (>1000MYA). I suspect a large number of Australian fern species, especially those with elevated situations (epiphytes) such as Asplenium (colloquially "Birds Nest Ferns") and Platycerium ("Staghorns" and "Elkhorns") as well as those with substantial frond sizes Todea barbara ("King Fern") or Pteridium esculentum ("Bracken Fern") or tree-like stature Cyathea/Dicksonia ("Tree Ferns") may have evolved partly to benefit from fire for spore release and long distance transmission due to fire-related updrafts. This could make sense because they may usually otherwise be 'trapped' in high moisture locations without due to an absence of strong updrafts facilitating ascending to higher altitudes yielding potential for longer distance transmission. Just as ferns are often the first greenery to emerge from winter landscapes in the northern hemisphere, ferns are often the first visible greenery to return to burned bushland... after moisture. Based on their age I suspect a large number of fungi probably respond to fire, especially subterranean species that are likely subject to only partial thermal trauma. Stepping back from fire to lightning, I similarly suspect "getting hit by lightning" and/or consequent canopy opening elicits a fungal response which also benefits trees that are victim to lightning strike.

Similarly, trees like Longleaf pine, Giant sequoia, and Coast redwood have adapted to not only tolerate but thrive through fire. Some even require fire to reproduce.

cjs_ac 2y ago

Australian eucalyptus trees also require fire to reproduce. The oil in the leaves is there to intensify the fire, destroying competing species.

contingencies 2y ago
Not true. There are many eucalypts. Some benefit from fire. Others benefit from cold. Most require neither and some probably require different seed release or germination stimuli. A primary evolutionary purpose of the oils seems to be as a pathogen resistance measure, being antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal.

deleted 2y ago

[deleted]

dkjaudyeqooe 2y ago

Also Xanthorrhoea which is adapted to fire but doesn't require it.

jfarlow 2y ago

Serotiny: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotiny https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotiny

contingencies 2y ago

Card carrying member of the Australian Plant Society here! Prior to flowering plants (Angiospermae; 140MYA) we had ferns (Polypodiopsida; 360MYA) and Fungi (>1000MYA). I suspect a large number of Australian fern species, especially those with elevated situations (epiphytes) such as Asplenium (colloquially "Birds Nest Ferns") and Platycerium ("Staghorns" and "Elkhorns") as well as those with substantial frond sizes Todea barbara ("King Fern") or Pteridium esculentum ("Bracken Fern") or tree-like stature Cyathea/Dicksonia ("Tree Ferns") may have evolved partly to benefit from fire for spore release and long distance transmission due to fire-related updrafts. This could make sense because they may usually otherwise be 'trapped' in high moisture locations without due to an absence of strong updrafts facilitating ascending to higher altitudes yielding potential for longer distance transmission. Just as ferns are often the first greenery to emerge from winter landscapes in the northern hemisphere, ferns are often the first visible greenery to return to burned bushland... after moisture. Based on their age I suspect a large number of fungi probably respond to fire, especially subterranean species that are likely subject to only partial thermal trauma. Stepping back from fire to lightning, I similarly suspect "getting hit by lightning" and/or consequent canopy opening elicits a fungal response which also benefits trees that are victim to lightning strike.