Web Hosting by Netfirms | Free Domain Names by Netfirms

Physical Properties

The eucalyptus is a fast-growing tree and provides firewood and materials for construction. Hardness, strength, durability, and flexibility varies with each species. Eucalyptus is generally very tough, and resists denting, tension, and torsion. Strength tests done early this century found that eucalyptus compares with white oak and hickory. Because eucalyptus uses extreme amounts of water to feed its fast growth, the woodgrains are few, and the texture is very dense. Freshly cut eucalyptus wood will sink in water because of its weight.

Eucalyptus trees are quick growers and many species reach a great height, Eucalyptus amygdalin (Labille) is the tallest known tree, specimens attaining as much as 480 feet, exceeding in height even the Californian Big Tree (Sequoia gigantea).

The eucalyptus can be found in a variety of sizes with some species being among the largest trees in the world; whereas, other members of the genus, may be mere shrubs. It  grows on the desert, swampland, valleys, and alpine regions. It finds nourishment in a complexity of soils and can survive in differing types of climate.

It is an aggressive plant whose leaves demand every vestige of sunlight, and its roots suck up all the moisture within their domain. The color of the wood varies from white to dark brown depending upon the species with the heartwood and sapwood being indistinguishable among species.

Of all the Australian plants, the eucalyptus species are the most difficult to distinguish from one another because of their physical similarity.

For most eucalyptus species mild climate is the best where there are warm summers, temperate winters, moderate rainfall, dry atmosphere, and plenty of sunlight. Temperature tolerance ranges generally between 15 to 100 degrees F.

Frost-tolerance varies from species to species. For example, blue and sugar gums are damaged when temperatures dip below 26 degrees F. while manna and gray gum can withstand colder temperatures to 22 degrees F. Seedlings many times are killed by extremes in temperatures because of their small size and fragile nature.

The amount of frost an eucalyptus tree can take is determined by the atmosphere's humidity, the tree's condition, the tree's sap flow, and the age of the tree. Older trees can take temperatures up to 15 degrees F.; whereas, younger trees can take only a minimum of 24 degrees F.

Of all the eucalyptus species amygdalina (peppermint) has proven to be the most resistant to frost.

Many different species are used both from natural forests and from plantations.

Some of the uses for eucalypts are:

		Building (for termite resistance); eg. E.camaldulensis, E.marginata
		Furniture; eg. C.maculata, E.globulus
		Woodchips; eg. E.camaldulensis, E.globulus, E.viminalis
		Paper; eg. E.botryoides, E.camaldulensis, E.grandis
		Fuel; eg. E.camaldulensis, E.globulus, E.saligna