Fire May Stimulate Flowering, Branching, Seed Production and Seedling Establishment in Two Kangaroo Paws (Haemodoraceae)

Flowering (number of panicles) in the fire-tolerant kangaroo paws, Macropidia fuliginosa and Anigozanthos pulcherrimus (Haemodoraceae), was greatest the year following fire, declining sharply to negligible levels after 5 years. The flowering response in A. pulcherrimus could be simulated in the absence of fire by applying fertilizer and to a lesser extent by removing litter or foliage clipping. Seed production per panicle remained constant or increased over two successive years after fire; but seed production per unit area declined. Flowering culms, even when their panicles were removed, usually produced two axillary culms the next season, while vegetative culms retained their apical dominance (...)