Why do some scrubland plants contain flammable oils and still survive fires?

Some scrubland plants contain flammable essential oils that may seem counterintuitive in fire-prone environments; however, these plants have evolved specialized survival strategies that allow them to persist despite the presence of such fuels.1

Rather than relying solely on fire resistance, many of these species are "resprouters" that have adapted to recover quickly after their above-ground parts are destroyed. These plants often possess protected underground structures, such as lignotubers or fleshy bulbs and rhizomes, which remain insulated from the heat of the fire. Because these organs are located at or just below the soil surface, they remain undamaged, allowing the plant to rapidly produce new shoots and regenerate its crown using the existing root system shortly after the blaze.23

In addition to resprouting, some scrubland species rely on fire to trigger their reproductive cycles, ensuring the survival of the next generation in the nutrient-rich, ash-fertilized soil left behind by the fire.23