Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus is a tree in the Myrtle family and is originally from Australia and Tasmania (and serves as the official emblematic tree). Eucalyptus is now found in many other countries with a warm and temperate climate, especially around the Mediterranean basin. It has a straight trunk with smooth, ash-grey bark with, at times, glimpses of reddish-brown wood. Eucalyptus sheds its bark every winter, allowing it to grow in height and diameter. It has been known to reach a height of 100 meters in Australia. Its spiky grey-green leaves produce an essential oil used in traditional aboriginal medicine to help treat all sorts of conditions. Eucalyptus has been used for a long time in southern Europe to make paper. The oil from its leaves is used in aromatherapy to help clear respiratory passageways.