Which of the following is a type of ground fuel?

Ground fuels refer to the materials that can ignite and burn on or near the ground surface, primarily contributing to the spread of fire. In this context, leaves are a prime example of ground fuel because they are typically found on the forest floor and can easily catch fire, leading to ground-level fire spread.

Leaves decompose and accumulate on the ground, forming a layer that can be highly flammable, especially in dry conditions. Their thin, flat structure allows for easy ignition and they tend to burn rapidly, which can significantly affect fire behavior in a given area. The presence of abundant foliage on the ground significantly increases the availability and intensity of a fire.

In contrast, tree crowns and snags are not classified as ground fuels. Tree crowns represent the upper parts of trees where the leaves and branches are located, which are not in contact with the ground. Snags, or dead standing trees, also do not contribute directly to ground-level fire spread in the way that ground fuels do, even though they can contribute to fire intensity through the combustion of larger materials. Moss can act more as a surface fuel in some cases, but it typically does not ignite as readily or burn as intensely as dried leaves do.

Thus, leaves stand out as the quintessential type of