FIRE TOLERANCE OF VETIVER GRASS

PAUL TRUONG Veticon Consulting and FRANK MASON Queensland State Development, Mackay,Australia
INTRODUCING
INTRODUCING NO-FEAR
NO-FEAR VETIVER
VETIVER
We
We all know that this extraordinary plant can tolerate extreme environmental conditions, for instance air temperature from 55 C
all know that this extraordinary plant can tolerate extreme environmental conditions, for instance air temperature from 5500
C on
on
Kimberlite
Kimberlite in South Africa to –22 C
in South Africa to –2200
C in
in northern
northern China.
China. But
But one
one aspect
aspect that
that really
really holds
holds our
our fascination
fascination is is its
its fire
fire tolerance.
tolerance. The
The following
following
1 photos
photos illustrate
illustrate convincingly
convincingly thatthat Vetiver
Vetiver plant
plant is
is almost
almost indestructible
indestructible byby fire,
fire, so
so we
we gave
gave itit aa more
more appropriate
appropriate name:
name:
NO-FEAR
NO-FEAR VETIVER.
VETIVER.

Almost 100% recovery 8 months after Very hot fire needed to control mice infestation in Burnt to the ground Complete recovery 8 months later
severe burning winter in a wheat crop in Queensland.

Regrowth from
Burnt vetiver underground buds

Very severe burning by bush fire, note the top Two weeks after fire and rain Seven weeks after fire
Four weeks after fire Seven months after fire
growth was completely burnt out
A severe bush fire swept through the area
and destroyed all vegetation

Bare ground

Before the fire, this 3 year old vetiver hedge planted

Vetiver regrowth 4 weeks after fire Vetiver regrowth 8 weeks after fire Vetiver regrowth 4 months after fire Vetiver regrowth 7 months after fire
to stabilise a railway line in Queensland, Australia