Studies of the Lignotubers of Eucalyptus gummifera (Gaertn. & Hochr.). I The Nature of the Lignotuber

Abstract

A study has been made of the lignotubers of the mallee form of E. gumrnifera growing in the Hawkesbury sandstone soils of the Sydney region. This form of the species has been found to produce extraordinarily large lignotubers, the largest covering an area of 75 m2; the tree form does not produce large lignotubers. The thicket-like habit of E. gummifera commonly found in the open heath areas of the Sydney region is due to the multiple stems arising from one large lignotuber. It is suggested that large lignotubers are an adaption enabling this species to survive damage to aerial parts.