Lignotubers and meristem dependence in mallee (Eucalyptus spp.) coppicing after fire

Field surveys of lignotuber meristem populations were undertaken in two mal lee (Eucalyptus spp.) communities in south-western New South Wales to deter mine range and variability in the number and density of potential regenerat ion sites. Lignotuber size ranged from 2.5 to 610 kg in weight and from 2.7 to 495 L in volume while total bud number per lignotuber (92-13300) and bu d density (76-450 buds per 100 cm(2) of lignotuber surface area) showed no consistent interrelationships. Eight months after a prescribed fire applied in late spring, total number of buds activated per lignotuber ranged from 14 to 307 but rarely exceeded 100. Most coppices had 5-15 emergent fascicle s by this stage, most (80%) of which originated in the surface 8 cm. At thi s time, an average of only 22.5 +/- 1.0% of the total buds activated per li gnotuber emerged above the soil surface. Five years after decapitation trea tments had been applied, 99% of the variation in coppice biomass could be a ttributed to the negative relationship between cumulative coppice biomass a nd the proportion of original fascicles decapitated. All mallee plants died after 100% of fascicles were decapitated in the autumn for two consecutive years following an initial fire.