trivia about Eucalyptus?

Answer 1

There are more than 700 species of Eucalyptus. As in other members of the Myrtle family, eucalyptus leaves are covered with oil glands. The copious oils produced are an important feature of the genus. Eucalyptus oil is readily steam distilled from the leaves and can be used for cleaning, deodorising, and in very small quantities in food supplements; especially sweets, cough drops and decongestants. Eucalyptus oil has insect repellent properties.

Eucalypts draw a tremendous amount of water from the soil through the process of transpiration. They have been planted (or re-planted) in some places to lower the water table and reduce soil salination. Eucalypts have also been used as a way of reducing malaria by draining the soil in Algeria, Sicily and also in Europe and California. Drainage removes swamps which provide a habitat for mosquito larvae, but such drainage can also destroy ecologically productive areas.

Answer 2

eucalyptus oil is a "volitile" oil...it kills germs. Inhaling eucalyptus when suffering from a cold not only helps open nasal passages, but it helps kill the cold germs.

Also, it is the only thing that koala bears eat, so koalas smell like eucalyptus.