The Survival of Juvenile Plants of the Resprouting Shrub Angophora hispida (Myrtaceae) After a Simulated Low Intensity Fire

Abstract

Nine-year-old juvenile plants of Angophora hispida (Smith) Blaxell, established in heathland after fire, were subjected to three treatments: stem clipped at base; stem clipped at base combined with burning at low intensity; or no treatment (control). In all, 93% of control plants survived over the 20-month sampling period; 80% of clipped plants and 37% of clipped and burnt plants resprouted. Under the latter treatment, size and depth of burial of the developing lignotuber interacted to influence the degree of plant survival. Only plants with lignotubers greater than 5000 mm³ in volume showed no mortality while, on average, plants at or above ground level showed greater mortality than those below ground.