Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus melliodora foliage and flowers
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order:
Myrtales
Family:
Myrtaceae
Subfamily:
Myrtoideae
Tribe:
Eucalypteae[1]
Genus:
Eucalyptus
L’Hér.
Natural range
Species
About 700; see the List of Eucalyptus species
Eucalyptus (pronounced /ˌjuːkəˈlɪptəs/[2] ) is
a diverse genus of flowering trees (and a few
shrubs) in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae.
Members of the genus dominate the tree
flora of Australia. There are more than 700
species of Eucalyptus, mostly native to Aus-
tralia, and a very small number are found in
adjacent parts of New Guinea and Indonesia
and one as far north as the Philippines is-
lands. Only 15 species occur outside Aus-
tralia, and only 9 do not occur in Australia.
Species
of Eucalyptus
are
cultivated
throughout
the
tropics
and
subtropics
including the Americas, England, Africa, the
Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East, China
and the Indian Subcontinent.
Eucalyptus is one of three similar genera
that are commonly referred to as "eucalypts,"
the others being Corymbia and Angophora.
Many, but far from all, are known as gum
trees in reference to the habit of many spe-
cies to exude copious sap from any break in
the bark (e.g. Scribbly Gum). The name euca-
lyptus comes from the Greek: εὐκάλυπτος,
eukályptos, meaning "well covered".
Eucalyptus has attracted attention from
global development researchers and environ-
mentalists. Outside their natural ranges, eu-
calypts are both lauded for its beneficial eco-
nomic impact on poor populations[3][4]:22 and
derided for being an invasive water-sucker,[5]
leading to controversy over its total impact
and future.[6] It is a fast-growing source of
wood, its oil can be used for cleaning and
functions as a natural insecticide, and it is
sometimes used to drain swamps and thereby
reduce the risk of malaria.
Description
Eucalyptus camaldulensis, immature, wood-
land trees, showing collective crown habit,
Murray River, Tocumwal, New So