There are many different types of plants on the planet earth, but one that stands out to me is the eucalyptus tree. Growing up as a kid, I always wondered how a plant could grow so tall towering over everything else and lasting for years and years through severe weather changes. Eucalyptus is flowering tree with several different types of species. The name is actually derived from the Greek word “eucalyptos,” which means “well covered,” and refers to the cuplike membrane that covers the budding flowers of the tree.2 They are mostly found in the continent of Australia, and few parts in Africa as well. The wood from eucalyptus trees are very hard and they are used to make furniture, fences, canoe boats and picture frames. These trees can grow really tall usually over 80 meters in height towering into the sky with wide spread leaves. Because of its large geographic range the genus exhibits many habits, from tall trees to multistemmed, shrubby species called mallees. The mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans) of Victoria and Tasmania is the tallest hardwood in the world, reaching heights over 330 ft (100 m); only the coast redwoods of California are taller. Having epicormic buds in branches and stems, and lignotubers in the roots, many species are well adapted for surviving fire and drought. Some species have smooth bark, in which case they are referred to as gum-barked, while others have rough bark.1 To begin, the scientific name for the eucalyptus plant is Eucalyptus Globules. The Eucalyptus originated from the continent of Australia and they make up about 75% of the tree population in Australia.2 Many have wondered why they originated from Australia but it was discovered that they were a major source of food for the Kuala Bear which are mostly found in Australia. They are also found in other areas such as Africa, California and Southern areas of Europe. They are considered as a native tree in the state of Australia. The mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans) of Victoria and Tasmania is the tallest hardwood in the world, reaching heights over 330 ft (100 m); only the coast redwoods of California are taller. Having epicormic buds in branches and stems, and lignotubers in the roots, many species are well adapted for surviving fire and drought. Some species have smooth bark, in which case they are referred to as gum-barked, while others have rough bark.1 Most species have white or cream flowers; however, some species, particularly those from Western Australia, produce spectacular red (E. ficifolia) or yellow (E. erythrocorys) flowers and are planted widely as ornamentals. These ornamental species are small in habit and drought-resistant. Eucalypt seed cases are woody, and many species produce so-called gumnuts.1 Eucalyptus trees are cultivated by farmers and others grow wild in forests. The major commercial species include mountain ash (E. regnans), alpine ash (E. delegatensis), mess-mate stringybark (E. obliqua), flooded gum (E. grandis), blackbutt (E. pilularis), spotted gum (E. maculata), jarrah (E. marginata), karri (E. diversicolor), tallowwood (E. microcorys), blue gum (E. globulus), and river red gum (E. camaldulensis). Heartwood is generally dense and varies in color from light brown, such as blackbutt, to dark red, such as jarrah.1 Eucalyptus trees usually grow under suitable environments such as wind direction, temperature, water and sunlight. They cope with very high temperatures by turning their leaves around. An interesting fact about these trees is that they are able to survive in harsh conditions such as after fires, droughts and high winds. Their roots spread deep under the ground and they are able to collect water from sources far beneath the ground, something which very few plants can do. Also, the eucalyptus trees produce other products which can be used for commercial purposes. One of these are the eucalyptus tree oil which is used medicinally, used in the production of perfumes and also used in industries. The barks of the trees also produce gum which is processed and sold commercially as gum. Also, wood from these plants are burnt and sold as charcoal which we use for barbequing, heating and other purposes. Hence these trees are cultivated by some for economic purposes as the wood the produced can be used by industry productions or can be exported to other countries. A great quality eucalypts possess is that they can be cut off from their trunks, and they will grow back again hence making them such a resourceful source of income for farmers and timbre industries. They are also cultivated in large farms to serve as wind breaks and protection against winds to other smaller growing crops. Transpiration is the system through which eucalyptus trees pull water from the soil to use for photosynthesis and other needs. They can be planted at any time of the year as they can adapt to many different climates. They grow up with brown trunks and bright green leaves which spread out to the atmosphere for sunlight absorption. Their roots go deep beneath the soil to extract water from underground sources. In flooded areas, the eucalyptus trees are planted to aid in drying the soil hence preventing a habitat for mosquitos and other water borne diseases. Eucalyptus trees require very little care as they grow up because they are able to adapt to changing conditions. Their leaves dry up and fall off as they grow which is greatly beneficial to the plant in terms of nourishing the soil around where it grows. They can be grown as potted plants but this is not encouraged as they grow very fast over time. When cultivated as a potted plant, they should be exposed to enough sunlight as this makes the growing process much easier. The leaves of a young eucalypt changes as it matures. Also, as the tree grows older, a gummy substance is produced by its bark which led many to call the eucalyptus tree “the gum tree.” Interestingly, there are several reasons why I choose to write about the eucalyptus plant. This plant has so many economic, medicinal, and environmental uses which makes it special. To begin, the wood from eucalypts are very hard and water resistant, hence they are used in manufacturing industries, catering to many purposes such as; used in building bridges, electric poles, canoes, and railways. They are also used in making quality furniture which can be sold for money. Paper is also made out of the wood from these trees therefore they serve printing industries as well. Secondly, leaves dried from these trees together with oil produced by them have been used greatly in the medicinal field. The dried leaves are used for treating respiratory infections, for cough, fevers and upset stomach. They are also used to treat burns, ulcers, acne issues and a wide range of infections.3 Eucalyptus oil which is distilled from its leaves is also used widely in pharmaceutical, industrial and fragrance companies. The oil is used in the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections or possible inflammations. The eucalyptus oil is sold in different pharmacies in the form of ointments, inhalers, or lozenges. Eucalyptus oil is also used in the making of soaps and perfumes. The oil is made up of 70-85% 1, 8-cineole. The anti-microbial properties of eucalyptus oil helps in the making of mouth washes.4 Thirdly, eucalyptus trees are grown and used in the production of alternative energy such as biomass. Fourthly, they are grown by farmers to serve as wind blockers for other smaller crops that are being cultivated. Recently, a group of scientists travelled to Australia and came up with an interesting discovery about what they found growing in eucalyptus trees. Scientists had noticed gold particles on eucalyptus leaves but were not exactly sure where this came from. After much research, the discovered extremely tiny gold particles in the leaves of eucalyptus plants! They further explained that the gold particles had been pulled up by their deep roots all the way up the plants until they reached the leaves. This must also good news to the mining industries as they can have much of an idea on which areas to carry out mining for gold and other valuable stones.5 In conclusion, the eucalyptus plant is one interesting plant that grows fast and its products are used in a wide variety of fields such as timbre, medicinal, perfumery, pharmaceutical, and environmental. It most commonly grows in Australia where it’s a major food source for the Koala bear but its also found in some areas of Africa, in California and Europe. Its ability to survive in harsh environments such as fires makes it stand out. Its leaves have medicinal properties and the rich oil filtered from its leaves are used in a wide variety of areas. Amongst all, the eucalyptus tree goes down as one of the tallest trees in the world and they last for years constantly going through harsh climate changes but still surviving. All these properties shown by one plant caught my eye and made do research and write about the Eucalyptus plant. http://www.oznativeplants.com/plant/Eucalypt.html

http://koalainfo.com/koalas-food-eucalyptus-has-lower-levels-of-nutrition