Where does eucalyptus grow? Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus is an evergreen tree with about a hundred varieties. The most famous are: rainbow, spherical, large and regal, growing up to 100 meters.

Eucalyptus trees grow in Australia, New Zealand, and Tasmania. They have the property of retaining moisture by turning the leaves with their edges towards the sunlight.

The leaves of the eucalyptus tree have high healing properties, and they also serve as food for the Australian marsupial - the koala.

Where does eucalyptus grow?

Of the huge number of trees growing on earth, several species amaze with their enormous size, their height reaches 100 meters or more. Eucalyptus can rightfully be considered one of these “green giants”.

Homeland of this interesting plant- Australia. In my homeland it is evergreen tree has more than a hundred varieties. Australia is a large continent and has almost all climatic zones, and each zone has its own eucalyptus trees.

This is a low-growing shrub that grows in the arid climate of the desert regions of Central Australia, these are gnarled, unsightly-looking trees in mountainous areas, these are giant, regal and spherical species of eucalyptus of enormous height that can only live in the humid climate of the subtropics. These majestic trees, with perfectly straight trunks and luxurious crowns, are truly a miracle of nature.

Eucalyptus is a very fast growing tree. In just one year, this tree grows almost 5 meters. Moreover, it grows both in height and in width. Of course, compete in height with the American sequoia, the most big tree It’s a bit difficult for eucalyptus on earth today. In the state of California, USA. There is a sequoia growing with the name Hyperion, whose height, according to 2006, is 115.61 m. But nevertheless, in Australian Tasmania there is a eucalyptus whose height is 92 m.

Description of eucalyptus

These amazing trees many unusual properties. So on one tree, on different branches, leaves of different shapes grow. On young branches there are soft leaves of a bluish color, round in shape, covered with a waxy layer. On older branches the leaves are hard and oblong. How do these leaves behave? in an unusual way. They are always turned edge towards the sun. Therefore, it is not surprising that a large tree, seemingly with a powerful crown, provides little shade. Thanks to this ability, eucalyptus can retain the moisture it absorbs for a long time. And it takes in quite a lot of moisture, it’s a real water pump. One such tree can absorb more than 300 liters of moisture within a day. And in a year, this water drinker drinks more than 100 tons of water. Because of these properties, this tree is often used in land reclamation.

Eucalyptus evergreen, but once a year it changes its bark. After a hot summer, in March, the bark that has dried over the summer becomes brown, it bubbles away from the wood of the trunk, curls up and falls to the ground in rags. After this, its trunk becomes smooth and shines with various colors of the rainbow. Depending on the species, after the fall, the trunks of eucalyptus trees can be white, green, yellow, blue and red. This species is called rainbow eucalyptus.

Eucalyptus forests are home to very cute animals - koalas. They feed exclusively on the leaves of this tree. It is known that its leaves are quite poisonous, because they contain hydrocyanic acid. But it turns out that this poison has almost no effect on the koala. Then they are specialists in eucalyptus and choose different types of trees in different seasons, at a time when they contain minimal amounts of hydrocyanic acid. Well, and then a koala is, in fact, a bear, albeit a marsupial. So he doesn't care.

In the fourth or fifth year of life, eucalyptus blooms. And it blooms in a very unique way. First, a rigid round-shaped box appears on a separate peduncle, at the end of which there is a bottom. As the box grows, it increases in size and becomes woody. Then the bottom falls off and a lush flower tassel consisting of hairy stamens appears from the box. Different species have flowers of different colors: white, yellow, pink and bright red. The flowers have a light, pleasant aroma.

After flowering, fruits form in place of the flower. U different types Eucalyptus fruits differ in shape, but most often they look like small bells, but closed at the bottom. These bells contain seeds. The seeds take a long time to ripen, a whole year, but can be stored for several years without losing their germination capacity.

Medicinal properties

People have long noticed that it is very easy to breathe in eucalyptus forests. This is due to the fact that eucalyptus leaves emit volatile phytoncides, a kind of volatile antibiotics that consist of organic matter having a strong antimicrobial effect. Phytoncides secreted by the leaves have a beneficial effect primarily on the respiratory system, they give people vigor and health. It was experimentally found that the main components with healing properties are the essential oils contained in the leaves and young shoots. These medicinal properties began to be actively used and now eucalyptus oil is used in various medicines such as: pectusin, ingalipt, efkamon, ingacamf, as well as various aerosols and cough tablets. In addition, the leaves are prepared and sold in pharmacies for preparing tinctures and decoctions at home. There is probably no person who has not experienced the healing properties of eucalyptus inhalation for colds.

Quite often, eucalyptus brooms are used in baths for colds. This is a very effective remedy that helps very often in one go. If you have a sore throat or runny nose, just hold a steamed broom to your face and breathe through your nose for 4-5 minutes. It is not very convenient to quilt with such a broom, the leaves are long and the branches are thin. It is better to weave eucalyptus branches into a birch or oak broom.

Although in practice it has been proven that eucalyptus preparations have practically no side effects and contraindications, but in some cases allergic reactions or individual hypersensitivity may occur. Very rarely, when used externally, skin irritation may occur.

Therefore, before starting treatment, it is better to check individual sensitivity to this remedy. In addition, it is not advisable to use eucalyptus preparations orally for children under 2 years of age, as well as for adults with impaired renal and liver function, bronchial asthma, and bronchospasm. It is better to refrain from using them for children with whooping cough. During pregnancy, these drugs should be used with extreme caution. It is advisable to first consult an aromatherapist.

Eucalyptus essential oils are very widely used in the perfume industry. They contain aromatic substances such as citronellal, limonene and geraniol, which have very pleasant odors. With their help, persistent aromas of rose, lemon and many others are easily reproduced. These cosmetics are absolutely harmless and are constantly very popular. Detergents: soaps, scrubs, shampoos, gels with eucalyptus extract excellent remedy for many scalp problems. And shampoo-creams with a detox effect practically cleanse the hair of any impurities, including tobacco smoke.

You can often hear the question: Is it possible to grow eucalyptus at home? Why not?

Eucalyptus trees reproduce by seeds, natural conditions carried by the wind. But for many years they have been grown not just anywhere, but where people need it. These are mainly resort areas. And not only in Australia, but in many countries around the world. Artificially planted eucalyptus groves create an excellent healing environment. And together with sea ​​air Staying in such places provides maximum health benefits for vacationers. Such groves can be successfully used for other purposes. For example, several such artificial forests were planted in Israel to protect against frequent artillery shelling from Palestine. They grew very quickly and became a real green protective wall.

Well, at home in our climate zone, eucalyptus trees are grown mainly in winter gardens, or in extreme cases, just in a large pot like any other house plants. Usually in any flower shops you can buy either seeds or ready-made seedlings. By transplanting them into flowerpots, you can create a real paradise with a healing twist in your apartment or house.

Thanks to the released phytoncides, your home will always have the purest healing air, and you will always have fresh eucalyptus leaves on hand, which can be useful for rinsing or inhalation. In addition, neither flies nor ants can tolerate the smell of eucalyptus. Eucalyptus growing in the house does not require special care, and it looks quite nice.

In the nature that surrounds us, breathtakingly unique phenomena are often encountered. Miracles happen almost everywhere, and for many phenomena people still do not have any reasonable explanations.

But most amazing phenomena we have the opportunity to observe only in certain places– where there are special conditions created by nature.

The birthplace of eucalyptus is the island of Mindanao

Take, for example, the Philippine Islands. This is one of those places where nature does not skimp on miracles, and people can enjoy incredible phenomena everywhere.

The Philippines has given the world entire forests of colorful, bright trees, when you look at them you understand that you are in a fairy tale. These trees are called, this miracle of nature is rainbow eucalyptus.

Since childhood, we all believe that the birthplace of a tree such as eucalyptus is Australia. But this is not entirely true.

If we take the rainbow eucalyptus, then its homeland is the Philippine island called Mindanao. In these places it may seem that a wizard took a huge brush and painted all the trees with multi-colored paints!

Eucalyptus bark

Rainbow eucalyptus gets its name from its bark. It actually resembles a rainbow and shimmers with all the colors of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, brown, blue, violet, purple and green.

It is for this very reason that the word rainbow became the most suitable name for these amazing trees.

It fully characterizes this rich spectrum of colors and shades of bark. The tree can reach a height of 75 meters, and the trunk diameter is more than two meters.

Eucalyptus and its coloring

If any of you manage to see this tree up close, you will immediately get the feeling that its bark seems to be painted with multi-colored paints. It’s as if an abstract artist tried his best here.

But the whole point is that only Mother Nature worked here - she created all these unimaginable spots and stripes.

All these multi-colored tints are intended by nature to show the age of a given tree.

The thing is that the bark of these trees often peels off, but not completely as a whole plate, but only in small strips.

At the place where the piece peeled off, a bright greenish spot instantly forms, some time passes, and the bright green spot becomes darker, changes its original color first to purple, then yellow, brown, blue, and last but not least this the area becomes bright orange or brownish-crimson in color.

Where does eucalyptus grow?

Rainbow eucalyptus is the only species of this tree that grows in the northern hemisphere, it was discovered more than a hundred years ago. Time passed, and the seeds from this plant were brought to South America, China, Malaysia, and to many other parts of the globe with a temperate climate.

There they took root well, thanks to the fact that this tree tolerates the local climate well, which cannot be said about its other species.

Although able to survive in the temperate climate of its homeland, the Philippine Islands, the rainbow eucalyptus is native to the humid tropics and is an evergreen tree.

Today this wonderful tree can be seen in New Britain, the forests of New Guinea, Sulawesi, and Seram.

Eucalyptus height

But it was not only the color, unique in every sense of the word, that brought fame to this tree. It has another unique feature - its height.

A large number of rainbow eucalyptus trees reach a height of seventy meters, but this growth is not the limit for this tree.

You may not believe it, but the height of individual specimens can reach ninety meters. And one more fact is truly amazing - in a year such a tree grows no less than ten meters. This is a real record in the plant world.

It turns out that we live in a phenomenal world, the mysteries of which have not yet been even half solved, but new miracles are revealed to people again and again.

The medicinal properties of eucalyptus globulus have been used by mankind since ancient times. Its antiseptic properties are compared with quinine and are used even where all antibiotics are powerless. Preparations from the plant are created on an industrial scale, and traditional healers include eucalyptus in most antimicrobial preparations.

General characteristics of the tree

Eucalyptus grows well in natural conditions, but its great value forces humanity to additionally grow the tree. This is not surprising, because the price is not only for the leaves, as medicinal raw materials, but also for the bark and wood of the plant.

Places of growth

The eucalyptus tree is classified as a fast-growing tree. IN tropical climate it is capable of reaching 30 m in height in just 15 years. It is actively grown for industrial processing in Africa, America, the southern part of Europe, as well as in the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus. In the wild, eucalyptus grows almost throughout Australia, on the island of Tasmania. These places are considered his homeland.

Eucalyptus globulus prefers moist soil with good drainage. Feels great on soil mixed with sand, clay, and small stones. Although eucalyptus is considered a very heat-loving plant, it can withstand light frosts (down to −8 °C). When the temperature drops even further, the tree dies, freezing from the root.

What does it look like

Eucalyptus globulus is an evergreen plant. In nature, there are trees up to 80 m tall, their diameter reaches two meters. That is, eucalyptus is quite a worthy competitor to the American Sequoia both in height and in the massiveness of the trunk. At the same time, the tree simply surprises with its voluminous crown of a regular spherical shape.

• Bark. The trunk and branches of globular eucalyptus are covered with medium-thick bark of an unusual color - white-gray with a blue tint. Deep grooves are visible on the surface, resulting from gradual peeling upper layers bark. Parts of it often hang from the tree, falling off from time to time.
• Leaves. All foliage on a tree is divided into young and old. The first is represented by leaves “sitting” on young shoots, closely enveloping them. The color is bright gray, the surface is leathery. Even young leaves are quite large - from 7 to 16 cm long and up to 10 cm wide. It is in young foliage that it accumulates greatest number essential oil rich in the antiseptic cineole. Large old leaves, thanks to the petiole, turn edge-on towards the sun's rays. They're shiny dark green, have a crescent-lanceolate shape. Dimensions range from 10 to 30 cm long and 3-4 cm wide.
• Flowers. Eucalyptus blooms with light axillary flowers for the first time in October, in the third year of tree growth. Flowering is short-lived.
• Fetus. Presented as a tube-shaped box. It reaches 15 cm in length and 30 cm in width. There are several grooves on the surface of the box. Inside there are one or two seeds, which finally ripen only after a year and a half.

The powerful root system of eucalyptus is capable of drawing moisture from a large area. For this quality, the tree is also called a “natural pump” and is planted in swampy areas that require drainage.

Leaf harvesting process

Eucalyptus leaves are used as medicinal raw materials. In order to obtain them, wild and specially grown trees are pruned in the fall. The cut branches are carefully folded so as not to damage the leaves. During the collection of raw materials, annual pruning occurs in order to form a dense crown.

The branches along with the leaves are tied into small brooms and hung in a shaded place outdoors or in a well-ventilated room. When drying, the leaves release vapors containing phytoncides. They are able to disinfect and purify the air in any room.

Dry branches are wrapped in paper and topped with a plastic bag. Store suspended for two years in a dry place with good ventilation. If it is necessary to separate the leaves from the branches, they are placed in a glass or plastic container and hermetically sealed. Store protected from light. If dryers are used to procure raw materials, it is necessary to maintain a reduced temperature regime 35°C to avoid evaporation of essential oil.

Composition and medicinal properties of eucalyptus

The beneficial properties of eucalyptus, namely its activity against most existing microbes and anti-inflammatory effect, are due to the multicomponent chemical composition of the leaves:

• essential oil (contains antiseptics and aromatic substances);
• tanning components;
• bitterness;
• flavonoids (antioxidants and anti-inflammatory);
• minerals (K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cr, Zn);
• coumaric, cinnamic organic acids.

In fact chemical composition Eucalyptus globulus is much more complex. One essential oil consists of 40 types of volatile components. It is this extensive natural combination that gives the antimicrobial effect of eucalyptus, comparable to synthetic antibacterial drugs.

pharmachologic effect

In official and folk medicine, the use of eucalyptus leaves accompanies the therapy of a huge list of diseases, because the plant has a number of healing properties, effective even in complex pathologies.

• Antimicrobial action. It manifests itself due to the content of a large number of volatile substances that have bacteriostatic, bactericidal, antifungal activity. It has been scientifically proven that preparations with eucalyptus are effective in eliminating the following pathogens: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, dysenteric amoeba, Trichomonas, streptococci, E. coli. A bacteriostatic effect is observed regarding Pseudomonas aeruginosa and typhoid bacilli. This spectrum of action allows the use of eucalyptus for the treatment of bacterial carriage, upper respiratory tract infections, trophic ulcers, infected wounds, furunculosis, and fungal diseases.
• Anti-inflammatory effect. The effect is manifested due to the elimination of pathogenic bacteria, as well as due to the presence of flavonoids. At the same time, normal blood supply to the tissues is restored, and signs of inflammation (swelling, hyperthermia and soreness) disappear. The anti-inflammatory effect of eucalyptus leaves is actively used for the treatment of skin lesions, as well as internal diseases of an inflammatory nature: gastritis, enterocolitis, pyelonephritis, prostatitis. Elimination inflammatory process accompanied by the wound-healing and analgesic effect of the plant.
• Expectorant action. Occurs due to dilation of blood vessels in the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract. This leads to normalization of secretory processes in the bronchial mucosa and improved removal of viscous sputum. The bactericidal vapors of eucalyptus help cleanse the lungs of bacteria that cause bronchitis, pneumonia, pleurisy, and tuberculosis.
• Cardiotonic influence. The use of drugs with eucalyptus has a beneficial effect on the work of the heart muscle - its endurance increases, the amplitude of contractions increases, and the supply of oxygen to the myocardium improves. Regular ingestion of products containing eucalyptus will serve as an excellent prevention of coronary heart disease, angina pectoris, and heart failure.
• Sedative effect. Under influence essential oils from eucalyptus leaves, a decrease in the excitability of the central nervous system is observed. This effect allows you to eliminate insomnia, increase the body’s resistance to stress, and neutralize anxiety and depression.
• Effect on digestion. Eucalyptus stimulates the secretion of food juices due to the presence of bitterness. Increases appetite, exhibits mild choleretic and diuretic effects.

The enormous benefits of eucalyptus lie not so much in the listed effects, but in their combination and strength. The combination of pharmacological properties makes it possible to significantly speed up the healing process for diseases of a bacterial nature.

Use in folk medicine

Eucalyptus globulus is tropical tree, so residents can prepare its leaves at home middle zone pretty hard. Fortunately, every pharmacy sells already dried leaves. And not as a dietary supplement, but as a real standardized raw material collected from a pharmacopoeial plant. But for successful treatment it is important to use this medicine correctly.

Infusion

Peculiarities. Used internally to treat wet and dry cough with bronchitis, pneumonia, tracheitis. The use of eucalyptus in the form of an infusion is advisable for gargling with laryngitis, sore throat, tonsillitis, regular rinsing oral cavity will help with stomatitis and periodontal disease.

Preparation and use

1. Pour half a liter of boiling water over 10 g of dried eucalyptus leaves.
2. Leave for a quarter of an hour, then strain.
3. Take 40-50 ml orally four times a day.
4. Before rinsing, warm the infusion slightly and apply three times a day.

Decoction

Peculiarities. Suitable for compresses and rinses. Indications for use include phlegmon, abscess, furunculosis, purulent wounds, trophic ulcers, purulent mastitis.

Preparation and use

1. Place 20 g of eucalyptus leaves in a saucepan, pour 200 ml of boiling water.
2. Cover the mixture and keep in a water bath for a quarter of an hour.
3. Leave for 10 minutes, strain, squeeze out the pulp.
4. Bring boiled water to a volume of 200 ml.
5. Treat the affected surface twice a day or apply a compress for two hours, soaking a piece of cotton fabric in the broth.

Tea

Peculiarities. Can be used as a general tonic before the cold season for the complex treatment of influenza and other acute respiratory viral infections. The product is recommended for lack of appetite, poor digestion, and dysbacteriosis.

Preparation and use

1. Pour a cup of boiling water (250 ml) over 30 g of dried eucalyptus leaves.
2. Let it brew for a quarter of an hour.
3. Drink in small sips throughout the day.

Tincture

Peculiarities. It is used internally for ARVI, bronchitis, laryngitis, pneumonia, malaria, stomach diseases, inflammation of the gallbladder, and intestinal infections. Externally used for rubbing the back for radiculitis, injuries, dislocations, sprains. In folk medicine, douching is popular for healing erosion of the cervical canal (cervix) with. There is a ready-made pharmacy option.

Preparation and use

1. Fill a dark glass bottle with a capacity of 0.5-0.7 liters by a third with crushed fresh eucalyptus leaves.
2. Add granulated sugar to half the entire volume of the bottle.
3. Place the vessel in a dark place for four days, tying the neck with gauze.
4. Add half a liter of vodka to the resulting syrup and mix well.
5. Leave for a week in a dark place.
6. Strain into a clean container, squeezing out the pulp thoroughly.
7. When taken orally, add 20-30 drops of tincture to 50 ml of water. Take three times a day.
8. For external use, including douching, mix 200 ml together warm water and a teaspoon of the drug. Use a cotton or gauze swab to treat damaged areas twice a day.

Inhalations

Peculiarities. Effectively eliminate bacterial diseases of the upper respiratory tract, tracheitis. Used for runny nose, sinusitis, nasal congestion, headache.

Preparation and use

1. For inhalation, cool a glass of boiled water to a temperature of 60-70°C.
2. Add 15 ml of decoction, 20 drops of alcohol tincture, or 10-15 drops of eucalyptus oil to the prepared water.
3. Breathe in steam, covering your head with a towel, twice a day.

Oil

Peculiarities. is a clear, colorless liquid with a characteristic aroma of cineole. Has strong bactericidal properties. Used after dilution with water or indifferent oil. Pure oil is used only for herpes rashes.

Preparation and use

1. Sold in pharmacies in dark glass jars. It is extracted industrially from fresh leaves.
2. For rinses, lotions, compresses, inhalations, 15-20 drops of oil are diluted with a glass of water.
3. Evaporating the oil using an aroma lamp helps disinfect the air in the room.

It is advisable to add eucalyptus essential oil to hair shampoos and facial cleansers. The short-term effect of natural antiseptics helps get rid of seborrhea, excessive oily scalp, acne, and dermatitis.

Eucalyptus is included in ready-made medicines. These are throat sprays “Kameton”, “Inhalipt”, eucalyptus extract - “Chlorophyllipt”, lozenges “Eucalypt-M”. All drugs are distinguished by antimicrobial activity and have been successfully used in official medicine for a long time.

Contraindications and side effects

The healing properties of eucalyptus make the plant an indispensable assistant in the home treatment of bacterial diseases. However, like any other medicine, Eucalyptus globulus leaves should be used only for their intended purpose. Recipes for preparing an infusion, decoction, or tincture from leaves must be strictly followed to prevent unwanted action self-prepared drug.

Side effects from using dried eucalyptus leaves may occur allergic reactions: redness of the skin, rash, itching. As a rule, such phenomena disappear immediately after stopping use of the plant. According to reviews, external use of eucalyptus preparations causes allergies very rarely.

Also, before using medicinal raw materials, you need to make sure that there are no contraindications to eucalyptus:

• use during pregnancy and breastfeeding is undesirable;
• individual sensitivity reactions;
• heart failure;
• renal failure.

Before using eucalyptus essential oil, you need to do an allergy test: apply the oil to the inner bend of your elbow and evaluate the skin reaction after 20 minutes. Due to the high concentration of volatile substances and the local vasodilating effect, slight redness of the skin is acceptable after applying the oil. The oil should not cause any burning, pain or itching. With the right approach and compliance with the instructions, it is impossible to harm the body with eucalyptus.

The eucalyptus globulus tree is a source of valuable plant materials and essential oils, the properties of which go far beyond antimicrobial effects. The most popular treatment for cough is eucalyptus, but even with incipient heart disorders or disorders of the nervous system, this plant will help restore the proper functioning of the body.

IN Lately this tree attracts the attention of not only koalas, but also indoor gardeners.

The Eucalyptus genus, belonging to the Myrtaceae family, includes more than 800 species of shrubs and trees. The homeland of this plant is Australia, where trees grow up to 100 meters in height, forming huge groves. The strong roots of trees in such forests grow along the surface of the earth, intertwining and tangling in order to extract maximum amount moisture. Other plants in the neighborhood of eucalyptus simply cannot survive, but koalas happily settle in, greedy for dense, fragrant leaves and tasty branches. Eucalyptus forests grow very quickly and after 5–10 years of life annually produce about 20 cubic meters of wood per hectare.

One of the features of Eucalyptus is the unusual arrangement of leaves. Their plates turn toward the light not with a flat surface, but with a sharp edge. Thanks to this, there is almost no shade under the eucalyptus tree. The leaves themselves, depending on age, differ in appearance. The newly grown leaves are almost round, soft, light green with a bluish tint. With age, they stretch out, become stiffer and a little darker, eventually taking on a pointed shape.

Unlike the trees we know in the middle zone, Eucalyptus trees shed bark rather than old foliage every year. During the “molting” period, the tree looks sloppy and shabby, but later the trunk regains its shine and beautiful color.

Unfortunately, only a few species of Eucalyptus have been “tamed”. In warm regions they are kept outdoors; in colder regions the tree takes root well in containers in winter gardens or apartments. Indoor Eucalyptus fights bacteria, purifies and humidifies the air in the room, saturating it with a pleasant soothing aroma, which mosquitoes and flies really don’t like.

Kinds

The most suitable types for home care– these are Lemon Eucalyptus (Latin Eucalyptus citriodora) and Gunn Eucalyptus (Latin Eucalyptus gunnii).

Eucalyptus Lemon indoor native to Eastern Australia and in the forests reached a height of 30 meters. In culture, its height is regulated by pruning and pinching shoots; usually it does not exceed one meter. The bristly leaves of a yellowish tint on the branches are arranged in a spiral and can reach 16 centimeters in length. The smooth bark is light brown, sometimes reddish; small growths form on the trunk with age.

Eucalyptus Ganna came to indoor floriculture from the forests of Tasmania. This species is the most unpretentious of all representatives of the genus; it easily tolerates short-term cold snaps and too dry air. In Russia, it is cultivated in Crimea, on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus. This Eucalyptus has light orange bark that sheds scales; the leaves also change from oval to pointed as they grow.

Growing

Many flower growers, after a long search for this tree in stores and with friends, ask the question - how to grow Eucalyptus?

From seeds

The most affordable way, because seeds are much easier to find than ready-made seedlings - they are well stored and sold almost everywhere. Growing Eucalyptus from seeds is a simple process that almost always ends in success. Eucalyptus seeds are small and retain germination well, so a bag purchased at any store will be enough to produce one or two healthy plants.
Light soil, for example a mixture of earth and sand, is moistened, and then future Eucalyptus trees are sown there. The first four days keep the temperature at about 20 °C, no watering is required. Sprouts appear in five to ten days, after which it is important to water them regularly, but not too much, and ventilate the room so that excess moisture does not lead to mold - for small Eucalyptus trees it can be fatal.

After several true leaves appear, home Eucalyptus trees are transplanted into separate small containers, after which watering is again interrupted for four days. Then daily moderate watering is resumed, allowing the sprouts to gain strength in their own territory.

Planting and care

Pot and drainage device

If eucalyptus is grown from seeds, then a month after the first shoots emerge from the ground, the strengthened seedlings are moved into pots for permanent residence. So that the tree can develop well root system, you will need a wide pot with holes; a container entirely consisting of cells will also work; in some stores it is called an Air Pot. In a regular pot, be sure to add a thick drainage layer and add a little perlite to the soil.

Lighting

Eucalyptus like indoor plant loves good lighting, but abruptly switching it from partial shade to scorching sun is not recommended - much better first It’s time to take the flower pot to a new place for just a few hours. If the branches of a tree suddenly begin to stretch out and the leaves turn pale, there is clearly not enough light for the plant.

Temperature

During the growth period, caring for Eucalyptus at home consists of maintaining the temperature within 22..25°C. From the end of autumn, the tree begins to prepare for the dormant period, so if possible, the temperature is reduced to 16°C.

Watering

It depends on the season: in spring and summer it should be plentiful; the roots should not be allowed to dry out, especially in young plants. In autumn, watering is gradually reduced to moderate, just to prevent the soil in the pot from completely drying out.

This plant is not demanding of humidity, since in dry air it actively evaporates water through the leaves. The tree does not tolerate spraying well, so it is better not to moisten the leaves unless necessary.

Transfer

It is recommended to replant the plant once every year or two. The root system of these trees is very strong, so if during the time between transplants the plant manages to entwine the roots of the entire lump of earth, they are partially pruned to moderate growth and adapt to a relatively small flower pot.

Tree formation

Every spring, the crown is formed, cutting and pinching branches in accordance with the plan. So, when caring for Lemon Eucalyptus, regular heavy pruning will create a bushy plant with round, young leaves. Without pruning, the plant will eventually take the form of a small tree with long, pointed leaves.

Medicinal properties

Eucalyptus growing at home has the same medicinal properties as its counterparts in the wild. The main medicinal raw material of this tree is the leaves, from which large quantities ah get essential eucalyptus oil. Even dry Eucalyptus has medicinal properties: infusions, tinctures and decoctions are prepared from it, inhalations with eucalyptus leaves are made at home, which helps cure laryngitis, tracheitis, bronchitis and even pleurisy. As a disinfectant, the oil is used to wash infectious wounds and ulcers. Treatment with Eucalyptus preparations has proven itself well for purulent mastitis, open fractures, chronic osteomyelitis and other similar diseases.

For tonsillitis, pharyngitis and sore throat, you can gargle with an infusion of eucalyptus leaves. To prepare an infusion of Eucalyptus, grind 10 g of dry leaves, brew a glass of boiling water like tea, and then keep in a water bath over low heat for an hour, without bringing to a boil. The prepared infusion should be used within two days. It can also be used internally - three times a day, one tablespoon.

To prepare eucalyptus tincture, fresh leaves, vodka and sugar are used. Place washed, finely chopped leaves into a dark glass bottle, filling it by a third. Then half of it is covered with sugar, covered with gauze and kept in a dark place for three to four days. After aging, the resulting syrup is poured with vodka, shaken thoroughly and left for another week. After aging, the leaves are squeezed out and thrown away, the tincture is filtered and poured into a dark glass bottle for storage. Use eucalyptus tincture in the amount of twenty to thirty drops, diluted in a glass of warm boiled water three times a day. The resulting drug is also used for rubbing, lotions, and rinsing in the fight against various skin diseases. This tincture is used to treat sore throat, stomatitis, loose stool, enterocolitis, as well as in the fight against severe bleeding.

Eucalyptus essential oil has deodorizing properties, so it has been used for many years in the manufacture of dry perfumes and as part of aromatic pads - sachets.
At home, Eucalyptus oil can be used to repel insects: mosquitoes, mosquitoes and other species.

Eucalyptus Energy

In addition to its undeniable healing properties, indoor Eucalyptus has particularly strong energy. Its effect on others promotes longevity, restoration of strength and preservation of youth. In the form of essential oil in an aromatic medallion or several leaves in a sachet, eucalyptus helps to quickly recover from stress, illness, negative impacts other people.

Human use

Eucalyptus has many uses throughout the world. Expensive furniture and even houses are made from strong, rot-resistant wood. Substances contained in the bark are used in tanning and many other industries. Essential oil is obtained from the leaves - a precious extract with many medicinal properties. It has been proven that inhalations with this oil help well in the treatment of respiratory diseases, relieve stress, and when applied externally in the form of lotion, it helps preserve healthy looking skin.

Conclusion

To summarize, Eucalyptus can be called a truly unique house plant, almost not demanding in care. It will take literally a little effort and attention, and this tree will become an excellent home doctor for the whole family, because in its homeland it is not for nothing that it is called the “tree of life.”

A grove of eucalyptus trees
Powerful, a little gray,
Royally medicinal, but simpler
Phytoncides miracle pantry.
A. BuzniEucalyptus - Eucalyptus.
Sem.

Generic Latin name Eucalyptus is a derivative of two Greek words “ei” and “kalyptos”, meaning “close well” and given to the plant for its interesting biological feature. bud eucalyptus tightly closed by a woody perianth. If you consider that it takes about 18 months from the formation of a bud to flowering, as well as the arid climate of Australia, it becomes clear why the plant protects its generative apparatus so well.

Motherland eucalyptus- Australia and the adjacent islands, where there are more than 500 species and where they are the main forest-forming species (eight out of every ten trees in the forests of this continent are eucalyptus). Among this extensive genus there are also very tall, straight-trunked species, regal and giant eucalyptus, growing in humid climates, and low-growing shrubs that live in the deserts of Central Australia. Snow-loving eucalyptus looks like a gnarled tree, growing high in the mountains where snow falls.

In some species (eucalyptus acuminiferous), in conditions of arid climate and frequent fires, large tubers with a supply of nutrients are formed that are capable of producing shoots. It is not surprising that eucalyptus forests and thickets were the basis of life for the local population - the Aboriginal people of Australia. They provided shelter for tribes, served as a hunting ground, and their wood and bark were used as building material and for making household utensils.

Roots, seeds, sweet secretions on shoots eucalyptus were used for food. In the absence of water, they were able to extract moisture from the roots of eucalyptus, and diseases were treated with its leaves. Therefore, eucalyptus was considered the “tree of life,” “the diamond of forests,” and the “tree of miracles.”

The first Europeans were amazed by the splendor of eucalyptus forests. Here is how it was described by Jules Verne: “They let out a cry of admiration at the sight of the giant eucalyptus trees, two hundred feet high, with their spongy bark up to five inches thick. On these trunks... furrowed with streams of fragrant resin, not a single branch, not a single branch was visible... It seemed that there were hundreds of columns made according to the same standard.”

European settlers not only admired the beauty eucalyptus, but also actively adapted them to their needs. In many ways, it was eucalyptus trees that helped them establish themselves in new places. They provided firewood and construction material, food, and most importantly, provided a healthy climate. They say that once in Australia there were giants up to 155 and even 162 m tall. Once, a kind of competition was even announced: a large cash prize was intended for anyone who found and showed a tree of such height. However, despite the many people who wanted to receive the prize, it remained unclaimed. The Australian Forestry Directory lists a tree 105 m tall, but the largest measured was a specimen of Eucalyptus regal, growing on the southern slope of the Australian Alps. Its height was 99.4 m and still it was the tallest of the flowering plants.

In Europe eucalyptus first appeared in France in the 18th century. and over the next century, capturing more and more new areas, it spread to many tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Europe, Africa and America. They try to plant it in damp, swampy areas with an unhealthy climate - and it miraculously transforms them in just a dozen years. In sparsely forested areas, it very quickly provides the population with fuel and valuable wood. TO end of the 19th century V. in the vicinity of the capital of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, all local forests were cut down for firewood and fences. The issue was so acute that a proposal was made to move the capital. And then the Russian adviser P.M. Vlasov advised the ruler of the country, Menelik II, to organize the planting of eucalyptus trees around the capital. Now there is a large forest of eucalyptus trees, providing for the needs of the surrounding population.

In Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia, forests made from this species make it possible to quickly create oases, stabilize sand and mountain slopes, and improve the climate. And all this thanks to the following feature: young eucalyptus grow very quickly, giving an annual growth of up to 3 m. In places with sufficient moisture, thirty-five-year-old specimens reach the size of a two-hundred-year-old oak, and at the age of twenty, 1 hectare of eucalyptus forest produces 800 m3 of valuable wood, which no tree species can provide even at an older age . Due to their intensive growth and having an extensive root system, eucalyptus trees pump enormous amounts of water from the ground and evaporate.

It is estimated that 1 hectare of eucalyptus forest evaporates up to 1 million buckets of water per year, i.e. it acts like a giant pump. In addition, crowns in eucalyptus forest are not closed and located high above the ground, the wind moves freely between the trunks, drying the soil. To drain and improve the area eucalyptus planted in Italy, Portugal, and in many areas of South America.

Eucalyptus trees also played an important role in our country. They were first brought to Russia in 1816 and planted in the Nikitsky Botanical Garden. But the climate of Crimea turned out to be unacceptable for them and they soon froze to death. Subsequently, repeated attempts were made to plant eucalyptus trees in Crimea, but in severe winters, when the temperature drops below -15 ° C, they freeze out. And now there are no eucalyptus trees in Crimea. In the second half of the 19th century. they appeared on Black Sea coast Caucasus. Here the climate turned out to be more favorable and they took root in the area from Sochi to Batumi.

The Batumi Botanical Garden and its founder A.N. Krasnov played a special role in the acclimatization of eucalyptus trees. About a hundred species were initially introduced eucalyptus, but most of them died from frosts, which sometimes happen here. Mass planting of eucalyptus trees began in 1935, when it was decided to use them to drain the Colchis lowland, which was characterized by severe swampiness and an unhealthy climate. The never-drying swamps were a breeding ground for the malaria mosquito, which spread the infection throughout the south of the country. Until 1941, 9 million eucalyptus trees were planted in Georgia; in 1950, their number increased to 40 million. Now this is a common tree here, which can be found not only in gardens and parks, but also along roads, on mountain slopes, reservoirs, and in some places it forms groves and even entire forests. Eucalyptus trees have changed the landscape. On the site of former swamps there are tea and citrus plantations. In our subtropics, the most common species is eucalyptus eucalyptus, which has adapted so well to the conditions of its new homeland that it even reproduces by self-seeding.

Eucalyptus twig-shaped is a large evergreen tree, up to 50 m tall. This is happening eucalyptus from the mountainous regions of Australia and the island of Tasmania. At home it reaches 90 m in height. The shape and size of eucalyptus leaves depend on age. Young leaves are ashen from a waxy coating and are located opposite. With age, they become alternate, increase in size and acquire a sickle-curved shape.

Many eucalyptus trees shed their periderm in the spring; among eucalyptus trees, only ten species are deciduous. The leaves of these plants are always turned edge-on towards the sun, and this feature is well explained by Jacques Paganel, the hero of Jules Verne’s novel “The Children of Captain Grant”: “In this country, where the air is dry, where rains are rare, where the earth is parched, the trees do not need any wind. , not in the sun. Lack of moisture causes a lack of juices in plants. Hence these narrow leaves, which strive to find a way to protect themselves from the sun and excessive evaporation. This is the reason why these leaves do not expose themselves to the sun's rays. front side, and a rib.”

Flowers eucalyptus peculiar. Their perianth becomes woody and, before the flower blooms, tightly covers the bud, its edges connecting with the edges of the receptacle. When the flower opens, it is shed and the entire flower consists of a large number of bright stamens attached to the edge of the receptacle. It blooms for the first time in the 4-5th year of life. It is a nectar bearer and is pollinated by insects, but more often by birds and even small marsupials. The fruits are woody capsules that ripen within a year, but remain on the mother plant for up to several years. Their seeds are eaten by parrots, which contribute to the spread of eucalyptus trees.

Currently, about 30 species of eucalyptus are cultivated in the subtropics of Transcaucasia and Central Asia. Eucalyptus leaves, in special containers immersed in the leaf pulp, contain up to 3% essential oil. Depending on the type of eucalyptus and the place of growth, the chemical composition of essential oils may be different, so they are divided into three groups based on their use. Essential oils with a predominance of geraniol have a delicate, pleasant odor and are used in perfumery. Essential oils with a predominance of cineole have a strong bactericidal effect and are used in medicine. If phellandrene predominates in their composition, they have an unpleasant odor and are used in technology for the enrichment of metals as solvents for varnishes, paints, and adhesives. In the cortex eucalyptus contains tannins and is used for tanning leather.

The bactericidal properties of essential oil exceed those of antibiotics and phenol.

In folk medicine, an infusion of leaves is recommended, prepared as follows: 200g of crushed leaves are poured into 1 liter of boiling water, left for two days and filtered. The infusion is stored for up to six months and is used for lotions, rinses, and washes as a wound-healing and bactericidal agent. For radiculitis and joint diseases, it is used for rubbing. alcohol tincture at a concentration of 1:5. An infusion at a concentration of 1:10 is effective for stomach ulcers.

IN scientific medicine water infusion and oil eucalyptus recommended as a bactericidal agent for diseases of the upper respiratory tract, gynecological and surgical practice. Externally, essential oil is used as an analgesic for neuralgia and rheumatism. By releasing large quantities of essential oils into the air, eucalyptus plantings disinfect it, making it almost sterile.

Eucalyptus wood is of great value - dense, beautiful in pattern and color, and resistant to rotting.