Eucalyptus

Gum


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Eucalyptus

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Eucalyptus globulus
Eucalyptus globulus
Eucalyptus globulus
Eucalyptus-cordata
Eucalyptus-cordata
Eucalyptus-cordata
Eucalyptus-resinifera
Eucalyptus tereticornis Sm.
Eucalyptus tereticornis Sm.

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General Description

Bark protects buds from fire: eucalyptus trees

Source and Additional Information
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Editor
The Biomimicry Institute
Location
Citation

 

Some eucalyptus trees protect their dormant, vegetative buds from fire via thick bark.

   
  "In most angiosperm trees dormant epicormic buds are present in the outer bark, a position where they could be killed by fire. By contrast, in eucalypts the greatest epicormic bud initiation potential is at the level of the vascular cambium, which is protected by the maximum bark thickness. This might explain the pronounced ability of eucalypts to produce bole and branch epicormic shoots after moderate to intense fire." (Burrows 2002:111)
  Learn more about this functional adaptation.
References
  • Burrows, G. E. 2002. Epicormic strand structure in Angophora, Eucalyptus and Lophostemon (Myrtaceae)- implications for fire resistance and recovery. New Phytologist. 153(1): 111-131.
"Eucalyptus". Encyclopedia of Life, available from "http://www.eol.org/pages/29916". Accessed 20 Mar 2010.