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 SYSTEMATIC
CLASSIFICATION |
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The
genus Eucalyptus, gathering around 600 species, belongs to the family
Myrtaceae, subfamily Leptospermoidae. It's a very rich and various botanic
genus.
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Though
belonging to an ancient group, the genus flower presents characters
enough evolved as the operculum of the flower. They have been recently
diversified due to the drought and the impoverishment of soils at the
end of the Pleistocene and the later reconquest under a climate similar
to the current one.
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Morphological
characteristics |
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Appearance
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The
appearance of the eucalyptus differs a lot from one species to another,
finding tree-shaped and bush-shaped (also known as "mallee") eucalypts.
The tallest trees are found in the species Eucalyptus regnans (a tree being
132 m tall was cut out in 1878). The trunk of the tree-shaped eucalypts
can be straight or wavy reaching 10-11 metres in diameter at its base. The
root system is strong and well-developed predominating the superficial network.
Many species show a strongly swelled stump forming a lignotuber of great
importance to the regeneration and as a nourishing reserve. |
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The
bark of adult trunks is an important identification item. It can be persistent
or deciduous in different colours, textures, thicknesses and constitutions.
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Leaves
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The leaves, simple
and persistent, usually show a heteromorphism of great systematic importance.
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The adult leaves offer great variety, although are generally alternate, petiolated, sickle-shaped, with entire margins, pendulous, with blades in vertical planes, without any great differences in colour between both sides of the leaf, more or less rough, and with very different coverings and colourings. The leaves usually have great quantity of oil glands. | |
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Flowers
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The genus Eucalyptus sp. is characterized by the lack of differences between the calyx and the corolla, being its pieces joined and forming a receptacle with a deciduous operculum when flowering. The word "Eucalyptus" refers to the protection that this operculum gives to the flower' sexual pieces. After shedding the stamens, which were inflexed, may spread out. The flowers generally appear in racemes or axial umbels, hardly ever aislated or in small groups. |
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Fruit
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The fruit is also very variable in the shape and size of the capsule, as in its way of opening, position of valves and surrounding ring, etc. The production of seeds is copious, both fertile and miscarried. The first ones are often polyhedronic, thickener and in different colours, although sometimes adquiere rounded or fluttered shapes. They are usually small in size. |
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 ORIGEN
AND LOCATION OF THE GENUS |
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The eucalyptus
are spread through Australia, Tasmania, and several islands in the same
zone: New Guinea, Timor, Solor, Flores, New Britain, Molucas and Mindanao.
Although they are well-represented in Tasmania, the greatest diversity
is found in Australia. It has been artificially distributed throughout the world, especially in zones of Mediterranean, Tropical and Subtropical climates. In Spain, where we can find around half a million hectares, it is preferably cultivated on the Cantabrian Coast, Galicia and in the Peninsular South-West. |
 ECOLOGY |
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The eucalyptus appear naturally on a large variety of substrata, although poor soils predominate, bereft of clay and bases because of an ancient leaching with short retention of water. They live in different climates, some of them in humid zones with constant heat, more common in mild zones with winter rain and summer drought. They are generally species which need sunlight and whose seedlings do not endure the covering very well.The mass of eucalyptus is brightness due to the hanging position of their leaves. Eucalyptus have a bad tolerance of nearby trees to compete for soil and sunlight. They easily regenerate through seeds, although in natural conditions, the rate of individuals that reach adulthood is very low. Some species can sprout from stumps very well. |
 EUCALYPTUS
IN SPAIN |
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The
eucalyptus arrived in Europe after the British explorer, Captain Cook's
sailing to Australia, in 1774. It was introduced into Spain, from Australia,
by father Rosendo Salvado in 1846 by sending seeds to his family in Tuy
(Galicia, NW Spain) |
| Andalucía: 44 % |
| Galicia: 27% |
| Extremadura: 14% |
| Cornisa Cantábrica: 11% |
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According to provinces, Huelva stands out with 40% of the totality in Spain, followed by La Coruña with 15%, and Badajoz with 10%. The main species in Spain are Eucalyptus globulus (white eucalypt, about 325,000 Ha.) and Eucalyptus camaldulensis (red eucalypt, about 175,000 Ha.). Other common species, although inferior in quantity, are E. caldocalix, E. dalrympleana, E. gigantea, E. gomphocephala, E. grandis, E. maidenii, E. saligna, and E. viminalis. Besides the species which have been planted with a productive purpose, there are different arboreta in Spain with other less common species. (Touch on the map on every province, for more information) |
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Made by: Javier Muñiz Glez |
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Modify by:
Angel Muñoz
Sotomayor
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