Vegetative Regeneration of Calluna Vulgaris after Fire

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Abstract
The object of moor burning is to produce a new crop of young shoots of Calluna vulgaris and best results are obtained when the bulk of new growth is produced by vegetative regeneration from stem bases. An experiment to test the suggestion that capacity to regenerate vegetatively intends to decline in plants older than about 15 years, is described. At the same time the effects of clipping are compared with those of burning. Replicated plots were marked out in stands of differing age (12-13 years, 16-18 years, 23-25 years). Plants in all plots were clipped leaving basal stems about 2 cm long. To half of the plots controlled high temperature (400[degree]C [plus or minus] 25[degree]) heat was then applied for a period of 2 min. The results showed that fewer stem bases regenerated after burning than after clipping alone, and there was a significantly higher proportion which regenerated on the youngest plants. These findings confirm the generally held belief that Calluna older than about 15 years tends to lose its ability to regenerate vegetatively.

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