Organism
Manzanita
TL;DR
Fire-adapted chaparral shrub found in coastal California.
Fire-adapted chaparral shrub found in coastal California. Features lignotubers - underground woody bunkers packed with dormant buds and stored energy. When intense fires (800°C) burn above-ground vegetation, the lignotuber survives because soil temperature 10cm below surface stays below 100°C. Post-fire, buds activate and new shoots emerge within weeks.
Notable Traits of Manzanita
- Lignotuber for fire survival
- Rapid post-fire regeneration
- Underground energy storage