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A Wide diversity of epicormic structures is present in Myrtaceae species in the northern Australian savanna biome-implications for adaptation to fire

Burrows, G. E., Waters, D. A., Bellairs, Sean M., Bowman, David M. J. S., Prior, Lynda D. and Hornby, San Kham (2010). A Wide diversity of epicormic structures is present in Myrtaceae species in the northern Australian savanna biome-implications for adaptation to fire. Australian Journal of Botany,58(6):493-507.

Document type: Journal Article

IRMA ID 81704288xPUB404
Title A Wide diversity of epicormic structures is present in Myrtaceae species in the northern Australian savanna biome-implications for adaptation to fire
Author Burrows, G. E.
Waters, D. A.
Bellairs, Sean M.
Bowman, David M. J. S.
Prior, Lynda D.
Hornby, San Kham
Journal Name Australian Journal of Botany
Publication Date 2010
Volume Number 58
Issue Number 6
ISSN 0067-1924   (check CDU catalogue open catalogue search in new window)
Scopus ID 2-s2.0-77956541428
Start Page 493
End Page 507
Total Pages 15
Place of Publication Australia
Publisher C S I R O Publishing
HERDC Category C2 - Journal Article - Other contributions to refereed journal (internal)
Abstract Recent research has shown that the eucalypts of southern Australia have an unusual and apparently fire-adapted epicormic structure. By studying a range of myrtaceous species from northern Australia we hoped to determine if this structure was also present in northern eucalypts. We anatomically examined the epicormic structures from 21 myrtaceous species in 11 genera from the north of the Northern Territory, Australia. An extremely wide diversity of epicormic structures was found, ranging from buds absent, buds at or near the bark surface, to bud-forming meristems in the innermost bark. These Myrtaceae species displayed a far greater variation in epicormic structure than recorded in any other family. This is possibly a reflection of the importance of the resprouter strategy, a long fire history in Australia and the ecological diversification of the Myrtaceae. Nonetheless, all the investigated eucalypts (northern and southern) possessed the same specialised, apparently fire-adapted, epicormic structure. This is remarkably consistent given the taxonomic, geographical and morphological diversity of the eucalypts.
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/BT10107   (check subscription with CDU E-Gateway service for CDU Staff and Students  check subscription with CDU E-Gateway in new window)
 
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