How do lignotubers help Eucalyptus seedlings survive grazing?

In the context of the Myrtales order, lignotubers serve as a vital survival mechanism for many Eucalyptus seedlings. These woody, rounded outgrowths are located at the base of the young tree trunk and contain a mass of vegetative buds, associated vascular tissue, and substantial food reserves.1

When the top of a seedling is destroyed by grazing—or by other environmental stressors such as fire or drought—the lignotuber allows the plant to recover. It does this by facilitating the vigorous development of new shoots from the stored reserves and buds within the organ, enabling the seedling to regenerate even after significant damage to its primary growth.1