Linum perenne as a Greenstripping Forb
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Authors
Melton, Trey
Date of Issue
2025-04-25
Type
Presentation
Language
en_US
Subject Keywords
Other Titles
Linum perenne as a Greenstripping Plant
Abstract
Wildfires have become an increasingly dire social issue in recent years due to the complex interactions between human development and anthropogenic climate change. The invasive grass Bromus tectorum (cheatgrass), exacerbates the problems posed by climate change by producing optimal conditions for the spread of wildfires. Due to its phenology, Bromus provides high quantities of dry fuel for fires in the early summer. It also grows particularly well in the nitrogen rich environment of scorched soil, allowing it to repropagate rapidly after a wildfire before any native plants can do so. The high growth rate of cheatgrass creates more dry fuel in turn, and the cycle continues. To combat this phenomena, restoration with native plant species is emerging as a common recourse for wildfire management. One such use of native plants occurs with the practice of greenstripping. Greenstripping is the cultivation of a “strip” of fire resistant plants in fire-prone areas to serve as a barrier that prevents fires from spreading too quickly. Linum perenne (wild flax or perennial flax), is a strong candidate for use in greenstripping due to its high moisture content and small leaf area. Linum’s fire-resistant qualities, as well as its ability to grow in scorched soil, will be compared to Bromus over the course of a growing season. This study aims to provide more concrete data in support of wild flax’s use for wildfire reclamation and prevention, especially as relates to the invasive cheatgrass wildfire cycle.