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Abstract

Fire resistance in a population of Cyathea atrovirens (Langsd. & Fisch.) Domin (Cyatheaceae) in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Cyathea atrovirens (Langsd. & Fisch.) Domin is a tree fern that occurs in the state of Rio Grande do Sul from sea level to an altitude of 300m. We monitored a population of 10 individualsof C. atrovirens affected by burning in the municipality of Campo Bom, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The objective of this study was to analyze the responses of a Cyathea atrovirens population after the occurrence of a fi re, considering the following aspects: frond production, annual rates of relative growth of caudex length, and the production, maturation and release of spores. The sporophytes of larger size produced more fronds than the smaller ones. We observed a signifi cant relationship between caudex length and relative growth (TCR) in individuals of smaller size. In the fi rst year, after the fi re, all individuals produced new fronds. The spore productionwas asynchronic. The species apparently demonstrated its capacity to support the occurrence of quick fi res, since the post-fi re frond production was gradually reestablished.

Keywords

• Frondes
• Queimada
• Samambaia arborescente