the.com/eucalyptus
A tree so flammable it weaponizes wildfire to murder its own competition and reseed the ashes.
means A genus of fast-growing, aromatic evergreen trees native to Australia, known for their oily leaves, peeling bark, and as the koala's sole obsession.
from Built from Greek parts in the late 1700s by a French botanist: 'eu-' meaning 'well' or 'good,' plus 'kalyptos,' meaning 'covered' — so 'well-covered.' The name points to the tree's flower buds, which wear a neat little cap (operculum) that pops off when the bloom opens, like a lid lifted from a jar.
- arson strategy
- Sheds oily bark that spreads fire, then thrives after
- koala diet
- Leaves are toxic to nearly everything but koalas
- giant climber
- Some species top 100 meters, tallest flowering plants alive
- thirsty roots
- Planted to drain swamps and fight malaria worldwide
- global invader
- Australian native now dominating six continents
great victoria forest — largest eucalyptus forest in western australia, spanning 8,450 square kilometers
koala diet — koalas eat almost exclusively eucalyptus leaves in australian forests, consuming 1 kg daily