Summary.The effects of all combinations of five desiccation treatments, two temperatures and three durations of desiccation on the survival ofCyperus esculentustubers and two‐nodeCynodon dactylonrhizome fragments were examined in laboratory and glasshouse experiments.Cyperus esculentustuber survival was greater at 22°C than at 4°C. Duration of desiccation did not influence tuber survival, except at the lower temperature.Survival ofCynodon dactylonrhizome fragments was greatly influenced by desiccation treatment, duration of desiccation and the interaction of these two factors. No buds survived when rhizomes reached 50% of their original weight, indicating good tolerance of desiccation since the original dry‐matter content of rhizomes in this experiment was