SEED PRODUCTION OF WIREGRASS IN CENTRAL FLORIDA FOLLOWING GROWING-SEASON PRESCRIBED BURNS

Wiregrass (Aristida stricta Michx.) is a major species in the long lea f pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) sandhills areas of central Florida, pro viding a major portion of the fuel for the recurring ground fires nece ssary to maintain the community. Growing season burning promotes flowe r and seed production. The objective of this study was to assess the s eed production potential of wiregrass following prescribed burns from May through August. Four longleaf wiregrass sites were prescribed burn ed, one each in May, June, July, and August. Information on bunch size , bunch density, seed stalk density, seed density, and seed germinatio n were collected. The four sites differed significantly in the density of wiregrass bunches, average bunch size, wiregrass cover and seed vi ability. The density of seed stalks was fairly consistent across sites . Viable seed production was lowest on the June burned site and highes t on the July burned site. The study shows good quantities of seed are comparatively easy to produce with growing season bums.