Effects of date and frequency of burning on southern bayberry (Myrica cerifera) in central Louisiana

Myrica cerifera (southern bayberry or waxmyrtle) is one of the most common shrubs in the longleaf pine/bluestem forest type in the West Gulf Coastal P lain. During controlled burns, individual plants can burn intensely because the wax coated foliage and fruits are very flammable. However, Myrica ceri fera can survive fires on frequently burned sites by resprouting vigorously from the root collar. To determine how burning influences the: development of Myrica cerifera, this study compared several burning dates (1 March, 1 May and 1 July) and fire frequencies (one, two and three year intervals) on a site in central Louisiana. Myrica cerifera plants generally survived all burning treatments, with only two plants dying over right growing seasons (1.3% mortality). Burning kept average shrub height at or below the initial preburn heights and significantly below the height of the nonburned plants . Final average heights and diameters of Myrica cerifera decreased signific antly as the burning frequency increased and the date of burning was delaye d into the growing season.