shoot lengths . --Average seedling shoot lengths ranged from 10.1 cm on the fire 

 plots to 5.7 cm on the stemflow plots (fig. 7). The fire plot seedlings were signifi- 

 cantly taller than those in all other treatments. These were followed by seedlings 

 from the opening treatments, which were similar in size to those from the litter plots, 

 Seedlings grown in the natural and stemflow treatments were the shortest. 



o 



in 

 nz 

 t— 

 o 



o 

 o 



10.0 



8.0 



6.0 



4.0 



2.0 



0.0 



= CROWN LENGTH 



I WOODY STEM LENGTH 



TREATMENT 



Figure 7. — Average seedling 

 shoot lengths, with statis- 

 tical comparisons of treat- 

 ments. 



The crown accounted for approximately one-half or more of the total shoot lengths, 

 and an increase in total seedling height appeared to be caused by an increase in crown 

 length rather than hypocotyl lengths. Again the fire plot seedlings produced the 

 largest crowns by far, and were succeeded by seedlings from the opening and litter plots. 



Root lengths and numbers . --Figures 8, 9, and 10 show root size and number compari- 

 sons. The fire plot seedlings produced vast root systems in contrast to other pine- 

 associated plots. The opening plots generally contained seedlings with root systems 

 also superior in size to the majority of seedlings grown within the pine stand. 



Treatment mean taproot lengths varied from a high of just under 46 cm in the litter 

 treatment to a low of 22 cm in the natural treatment (fig. 8). Seedling taproot lengths 

 from the fire and opening treatments closely followed those from the litter treatment. 

 The average number of lateral roots per seedling ranged from 39 on fire plot seedlings 

 to just over five on the natural plots seedlings (fig. 9). These numbers also gave the 

 fire treatment seedlings a distinct advantage in lateral root lengths with just under 

 160 cm of roots (fig. 10). The opening-cleared seedlings grew well with an average of 

 145 cm of lateral roots but the natural plot seedlings, with few and short roots, aver- 

 aged only about 11 cm of total lateral root length. 



17 



