Some trees shed their outer bark every year to expose the pale, smooth surface underneath, while others keep the rough outer surface.
I felt excited! While applying for my grant to do research in Australia, I had read all about these trees. I finally had the chance to see them in their native habitat! One thing that I found most striking was the smell. Eucalyptus trees have essential oils that are very fragrant. It’s a fresh, clean and slightly citrusy smell. You may have even smelled them yourself, because their oils have antimicrobial properties and are often used in cleaning products!
Almost all Eucalyptus species are native to Australia. These trees are found all over the continent, from the northern tropics to the southern Alps. Eucalyptus trees are most often found in somewhat dry environments. Otherwise, different species are adapted to a range of different habitats. Some grow in open savannas where widely spaced trees let light filter down to shorter plants like grasses, whereas others grow in dense forests where little light reaches the forest floor. I also often find Eucalyptus trees planted along sidewalks or in parks around the city.
Eucalyptus trees have a range of different adaptations to their environment, but one that is most notable is fire tolerance. While fires can be dangerous, fire also plays an important role in many ecosystems. Eucalyptus trees rely on fire so that younger trees of the same species can continue to grow after older ones die, a process known as "regeneration".
