Viability of seeds ofEucalyptus obliquaandLeptospermum juniperinumfrom capsules subjected to a crown fire

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Abstract
Following crown fires near Anglesea, Victoria, about one third of the estimated viable seed survived within the capsules of Eucalyptus obliqua and Leptospermum juniperinum. Thickness of the capsule wall was much less than that of the bark of adjacent stems on which cambium was killed. Moisture content of seed and capsules, as well as the mutual packing of inflorescences may contribute to the subtleties of seed survival under such searing conditions. All E. obliqua seeds were killed in capsules heated to 290°C for 1 ½ minutes, whilst some Leptospermum seeds survived 4 minutes at 380 °C. Experiments point to the occurrence during crown fires of either very short exposures to high temperatures, or longer exposures to relatively low temperatures at capsule sites. Further work may enable a calibration of such fire environments within the crown.