In semi-arid regions, woody floodplain plants have developed methods of tolerance to both flooding and drought. Understanding the limits of tolerance to drought is critical to the efforts of restoring these communities. In Australia, Tangled Lignum (Duma florulenta (Meisn.) T. M. Schust; formerly known as Muehlenbeckia florulenta Meisn.), hereafter referred to as Lignum, is an ecologically significant floodplain shrub that dominates large areas of the Murray–Darling and Lake Eyre Basins. This study investigates the resilience of Lignum plants to dry periods by examining the capacity of plants to regenerate from dormancy. In particular, this study sought to determine if the capacity of Lignum to regenerate declined with increasing duration of dormancy. Lignum plants were surveyed at 12 sites on the Murray River floodplain in north-western Victoria. Sites were monitored annually between 2006–07 and 2012–13. This study found that although Lignum can regenerate from dormancy, regeneration is not guaranteed and the likelihood of successful regeneration varies among locations and diminishes with increasing length of dormancy. Lignum communities should be managed to maintain condition and resilience to drought in order to give Lignum plants the greatest chance of regeneration success.
This project was funded by The Living Murray initiative of the Murray–Darling Basin Authority. The Living Murray is a joint initiative funded by the New South Wales, Victorian, South Australian, Australian Capital Territory and Commonwealth governments, coordinated by the Murray–Darling Basin Authority.