Application of Raunkiaer's Life form System to Plant Species Survival After Fire

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Abstract
The response of ground cover vegetation to prescribed fire [in New Hampshire, USA] was evaluated in relation to the life form of individual species. Chamaephytes were most severely affected by fire. Hemicryptophytes varied in their response and geophytes best survived the prescribed burn. One therophyte (Erechtites hieracifolia) appeared only after burning. Within each life form group variability existed in the modes of regeneration and recovery after burning. Individual species tended to demonstrate either a favorable (rapid regeneration through vegetative reproduction, or through the germination of seed), an unfavorable (slow recovery; regeneration slow and incomplete after 1 growing season following burning) or neutral response (plants unaffected by burning) to fire.