Influence of Repeated Annual Burning on a Medusahead Community

Abstract

Three annual burnings near Alturas, California, did not result in a decrease in medusahead. Medusahead increased and downy brome decreased after burning. No changes were observed in perennial grass populations in relation to burning. Changes in densities of annual grasses due to burning apparently were not a result of destroying caryopses; but probably were caused by alteration of the seedbed environment.