what are the characters and importance of eucalyptus?

Answer 1

Eucalyptus are fast growing members of the Myrtle family, originating in Australia and Tasmania but widely imported to California and Spain during the mid-19th century through the first part of the 20th century. Its an evergreen that, depending on species, varies in size from shrub to some of the largest trees in the world. Like Gingko, these trees are hold-overs from the time of dinosaurs. They require huge amounts of sunlight as well as ground water.

They shed whole limbs at a time (and quickly) to conserve water and thus are known as the "widowmaker" tree because of the deaths they've caused to campers. They leach a chemical into the soil that inhibits the growth of other plants, and their bark litter is especially flammable. Eucalyptus oil vapors are highly flammable as well and whole trees have been known to explode.

Eucalyptus trees have more uses than any other tree on earth. Its wood is very tough, much akin to white oak or hickory and can be used for similar purposes, except that it shrinks considerably as it dries.

Actually, the following, lifted from "The Eucalyptus of California" (first url referenced), sums it up well:

Eucalyptus serves man well. It has more useful purposes than any other tree on earth. For example, it provides forest cover for any terrain from mountains to swamps. It gives shade and acts as a windbreak. It furnishes gum, resin, oil, and nectar. When cut it is used for fuel, construction, poles, posts, and hardwood products. The eucalyptus even has the reputation of improving the climate in which it grows. In its native land of Australia, it was used just like hickory, oak, and ash in the United States. The wood is elastic, strong, and durable - it can be as hard as iron and as durable if it receives proper treatment.

Eucalyptus has been used in place of mothballs, to scour out boilers, in various medicines, pulp for paper, and in landscaping. Today it is used also as biomass fuel, plywood, charcoal, and as an alcohol substitute in gasoline engines. It also is being used to drain waste water to eliminate soil salinity. (Even the Israelis have used eucalyptus trees surreptitiously to mark Syrian targets. In Mexico, marijuana and poppy growers have used eucalyptus to hide their illegal crops.) There are so many uses for eucalyptus that it is like the proverbial pig where everything is used except the oink. In the case of the eucalyptus, everything is used except the noise from its rattling leaves and someone might find a use for that with new technology.

Answer 2

Eucalyptus is full of oil.

They are native to Australia and were imported to the US (primarily Southern California) for use in making telephone polls. The problem is that they are so full of oil that they burn like mad. In fact, they seed only when they burn.

Can you imagine a eucalyptus telephone poll in a forest fire? Lovely.

Anyway, besides the koalas, we use eucalyptus oil for throat lozenges.

Answer 3

some trivia about the eucalyptus tree.....Koala bears eat eucalyptus and DO NOT DRINK WATER. There is enough water in this plant's leaves to hydrate them. the word "koala" is aborigini (sp) for "no water". so yeah, to the koala bears, the eucalyptus tree is pretty darn important!

Answer 4

The link below is a great one