What’s tall, green, and a prime spot to find a koala enjoying its lunch? It’s a Eucalyptus tree! Today we’ll take a deep dive and learn all about these fantastic trees. Eucalyptus trees are often the dominant species in native Australian forests. They play a large role in determining how ecosystems like forests function, so it’s important for Australian ecologists to study them. Read on to find out more!
It depends. Eucalyptus plants are highly diverse. Inn fact, there are over 700 species of Eucalyptus, which is nearly four times the number of species of maple trees! These species have different looks, depending on the habitats to which they are adapted. Most Eucalyptus plants are trees, although they can also be shorter shrubs. Their leaf characteristics are also variable. Most of the time, their leaves are evergreen, meaning that instead of shedding their leaves in fall, they stay green all year long, like a pine tree. Some species have small, narrow leaves, whereas others have large and wide ones. Often the leaves are smooth, leathery and slightly thicker than the leaves of other plants. Eucalyptus bark can also look different depending on the species.
