You may not know, but these 6 common plants are fire resistant and can contain fires

There are fire retardant plants in the world, a natural barrier to fires. They can therefore be our precious allies.

They are less flammable and more fire resistant. There are plants that can contain fires, and they are more common than you might think





In every part of the world, in regions particularly exposed to risk of fire and in areas characterized by severe drought, the farms and houses located near the forests are often in danger precisely because of the fires, which are frequent especially in the summer period.

The planting of hedges consisting of fireproof plants to delimit the cultivated fields or to separate the houses from the forests could be a good solution to the fire problem. But what are the fireproof plants to be integrated in hedges and what role do they play in containing fires?

Below is a list of flame retardant plants that are incredibly capable of withstanding fire. The most important are:

Index

Screw

You may not know, but these 6 common plants are fire resistant and can contain fires

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The vine is an excellent fireproof plant. In the vineyards, the rows of vines act as a fireproof barrier. However, when a fire occurs in its vicinity, smoke and heat can damage ripe fruit, leaves and the plants themselves. Green vines, still in full growth, are much less likely to catch fire. In the event of a fire, it is possible that the dry leaves, which are now unsuitable for feeding the bunches of grapes, may be burned.

Interestingly, wines from vines exposed to flames develop clear smoky notes. The effect intensifies if the contact between the plant and the smoke from the fire occurs in the period immediately preceding the grape harvest. However, when vines are used as fire fighting plants, they can suffer some damage.

In a winery, the arrangement of the vines is therefore crucial. It is necessary to favor plants that are able to contain the spread of flames. To make this protection system effective, it is necessary to maintain a space of at least ten meters between the vineyards and the surrounding wooded area or buildings that are nearby. In some areas of Europe they have already done so.



The olive tree

You may not know, but these 6 common plants are fire resistant and can contain fires

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The olive tree is a very resistant plant, with marked fireproof properties; it can in fact guarantee protection from fire and wind. The oldest olive trees, in addition to providing good fuel, maintain excellent wind resistance. Indeed, olive trees survive for long years in a given territory and there are precious specimens of centuries-old olive trees. Thanks to their solid root system, they are able to regenerate even if their branches or trunks are destroyed. It is recommended to plant olive trees in areas prone to forest fires in order to defend them.

The green cypress

You may not know, but these 6 common plants are fire resistant and can contain fires

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Cypresses also resist fire well. In 2012, an expanse of trees in Andilla, in the Spanish province of Valencia, where research was underway into the resistance of certain plant species to a pathogenic fungus, was invaded by a vast fire. The latter affected 50 acres of highly biodiverse wooded area. All the oaks, holm oaks, pines and junipers had been completely burned. As found in an Italian-Spanish study published in 2015 in the Journal of Environmental Management, only 1,27% of Mediterranean cypresses (exactly 946 trees) had been affected by fire.

It is not so much the wood, but the cuticle, that is the hydrophobic fabric that covers branches and leaves, that is incredibly resistant to flames. The internal structure of the leaves minimizes the loss of liquids even in situations of extreme heat, when the air is dry. Taking advantage of this property, the burning rate of a cypress is seven times lower than that of a pine, for example. Furthermore, its dry leaves on the ground are not combustible either. The mantle of leaves that is deposited on the ground, in fact, forms a protective barrier that holds water, reducing the risk of fire.



The carob tree

You may not know, but these 6 common plants are fire resistant and can contain fires

A typically Mediterranean woody plant, the carob tree, in addition to supplying us with carob, contributes to safeguarding the environment. Among its beneficial properties, the carob tree helps fight erosion and fires. In fact, planting an expanse of carob trees makes for an effective fire wall. In the event of a fire, to stop the sparks carried by the wind, simply throw water from the canadair.

The cork oak

You may not know, but these 6 common plants are fire resistant and can contain fires

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Perfectly adapted to the Mediterranean climate, cork oaks exert considerable resistance to the passage of fire. In particular, the thick bark of the cork oak is able to protect it from possible fires; it allows moisture to be retained and ensures that the average temperature inside the tree is 13 ° C lower than the outside temperature. As a result, this tree species is one of the most fire resistant.

Undoubtedly, if struck by the flames, the cork oak weakens, but the fire does not kill it. When a fire penetrates a well-kept cork oak, it certainly causes damage, which is less severe, however, than what a pine forest, scrub or forest would suffer.

The prickly pear

You may not know, but these 6 common plants are fire resistant and can contain fires

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Long hedges of prickly pears can become impassable thorny walls for wild animals. This type of hedge is low maintenance and offers tasty fruit. Furthermore, Opuntia hedges are an effective natural obstacle to the spread of fires.

To plant this type of hedge, it is necessary to exploit its natural multiplication by cuttings: it is sufficient to bury and line up the blades, to be kept dry for a certain period of time. The cuttings generally recover better when they are deprived of water, but should be watered abundantly once planted. In general, cacti and agave, thanks to their rich water and gel content, are particularly suitable when you want to create "safety belts" to delay the spread of flames.

Source: State of Vittoria

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