Eucalyptus - A Miracle for the Respiratory System

Eucalyptus - A Miracle for Respiratory Health

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Eucalyptus (lat. Eucalyptus) is a genus of diverse flowering trees or shrubs from the myrtle family (lat. Myrtaceae). Species of these plants are found predominantly in Australia, where there are around 700 known species of Eucalyptus. Most originate from Australia, with very small numbers of plants found in adjacent parts of New Guinea and Indonesia or the Philippine islands.

Eucalyptus species are cultivated throughout the tropics and subtropics - including America, England, Africa, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, China, and the Indian subcontinent.

The name eucalyptus comes from Greek: εὐκάλυπτος - eukályptos, which means "well covered".

Types of Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus is one of three similar plant genera commonly referred to as "eucalypts", the others being Corymbia and Angophora. Many are also called gum trees because they produce large amounts of sap when the bark is damaged. Eucalyptus has very smooth, often silky glossy bark that can be white, cream, grey, green, or copper.

Since global development, Eucalyptus has attracted the attention of researchers and ecologists. Partly as a fast-growing source of timber, or for its oil, which can be used as a cleaning agent and also works as a natural insecticide (preparation for killing insects). Eucalyptus draws enormous amounts of water from the soil. In their homeland, eucalyptus was planted to drain swamps, thereby reducing the risk of malaria. They are also planted as windbreaks and for soil erosion control.

Eucalyptus can represent shrubs or very tall trees:

Small - up to 10 meters in height
Medium-sized - 10 to 30 meters
Tall - 30 - 60 meters
Very tall - more than 60 meters
Almost all Eucalyptus are deciduous trees, with only some tropical species losing their leaves at the end of the dry season. As with other members of the myrtle family, Eucalyptus leaves are covered with oil glands. Eucalyptus abundantly produces oils and they are therefore an important component of the genus. The leaves of mature Eucalyptus plants are usually lanceolate, petiolate, and waxy or glossy green. But there are many exceptions to this pattern (e.g. E. melanophloia, E. melanophloia, E. setosa).

Most characteristic Eucalyptus species have typical flowers and fruits (capsules). The plant flowers have numerous distinctive white, cream, yellow, pink, or red stamens. The name Eucalyptus, from the Greek words eu- well, and kaluptos- covered, meaning "well-covered", describes the cap that covers the stamens. The capsules are roughly conical in shape and have valves at the end that open to release seeds.

Product name
Eucalyptus Globulus
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The appearance of Eucalyptus bark changes with the age of the plant, including fiber length, degree of wrinkling, thickness, hardness and color. All mature eucalyptus trees add an annual layer of bark, contributing to greater trunk diameter. In some species, the outermost layer dies and forms either long strips (as in Eucalyptus sheathiana), large flakes (E. diversicolor, E. cosmophylla, E. cladocalyx). The bark surface can be matte (E. cosmophylla), glossy or satin.

Eucalyptus interesting facts

There are more than 700 species of Eucalyptus. Some of them differ from the mainstream of the genus to the extent that they are genetically completely isolated and may have only a few relatively unchanging characteristics. Most, however, can be considered to belong to large or small groups of related species that are often in geographical contact. Some species are relatively genetically stable, while others have diverged completely from their closest relatives.
The small genus of similar trees - Angophora, has been known since the 18th century. In 1995, new evidence, primarily genetic, showed that some Eucalyptus species were actually more closely related to Angophora than other eucalyptus trees, and were split into a new genus Corymbia. Although the plant genera are thus separated, some hybrids remain designated as Eucalyptus - Angophora, Corymbia and Eucalyptus, as "Eucalyptus".

Growing Eucalyptus

The most hardy is Eucalyptus pauciflora, which can withstand cold and frost down to -20°C. Several other species, especially from the highland plateaus and mountains of central Tasmania, such as Eucalyptus coccifera, Eucalyptus subcrenulata and Eucalyptus gunnii, have produced hardy seed forms obtained from these genetically resistant strains. Lemon Eucalyptus tolerates temperature drops down to -5°C.

Recommendation: Despite all its characteristics, grow Eucalyptus indoors for its aromatic and disinfectant properties.

When growing eucalyptus, you should follow these tips. Most eucalyptus trees are not very frost-resistant, tolerating light frosts around -3°C.

Eucalyptus oil

The essential oil obtained from eucalyptus plant leaves contains components that are strong natural disinfectants and can be toxic in large quantities. Several herbivorous marsupials, especially koalas and some possums, are quite tolerant of this fact. For koalas, these compounds are the most important factor in leaf selection. The plant's flowers produce large amounts of nectar, providing food for many pollinators, including insects, birds, bats and possums.

Eucalyptus oil is easily steam distilled from the leaves and can be used for cleaning, deodorizing effects and of course in the food and pharmaceutical industries, especially to help treat the respiratory tract.

Product name
Eucalyptus Guni
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High-quality honey is obtained from the nectar of some Eucalyptus species. Eucalyptus wood is also commonly used for making didgeridoos, the traditional Australian wind instrument.

All parts of Eucalyptus can be used to produce dyes, primarily for silk and wool. The colours that can be achieved range from yellow and orange through green, light brown, to chocolate. The remaining material after processing can be safely used as compost or fertiliser.