The relationship between terpenes and flammability of leaf litter

摘要: Many studies have assumed that plant terpenes favor fire due to their enormous flammability. However, only a few of them, all performed on green leaves, demonstrated this. In the present work we investigated question whether litter terpene content can be used estimate flammability and temperatures reached during fire. Epiradiator burn table tests were compare leaf P. pinaster, halepensis, pinea, C. albidus, ladanifer, laurifolius mixture pinaster with other five species (e.g. + halepensis). Tests showed increasing spread rates shorter combustion times under higher contents. Flame height was triggered both bed thickness, whereas percentage burned biomass significantly correlated height. indicated concentration in positively flame negatively residence time ignition delay. Flammability high for hence intermediate pinea combined each these species, low laurifolius, ladanifer them. Accordingly, high, low. We concluded plants might influence intensity, by having stored dead addition developed traits survive Thus, correct management aboveground fuels rich concentrations, such as those could prove helpful reducing hazard