Eucalyptus

Hello there. Can you smell that? It’s a fresh, clean, minty smell. That’s me. I don’t have a nose, but my leaves are full of a special perfume. I am a very tall tree, reaching way up to tickle the clouds. My bark can be smooth or shaggy, and my long, skinny leaves dangle down like green fingers. I have a very special, sleepy friend who loves to climb my strong branches and munch on my leaves all day. Do you know who that is? It’s a fluffy koala. What a sweet friend to have.

I am a Eucalyptus tree, but some people call me a Gum Tree. I have lived in the warm, sunny land of Australia for a very, very long time—since before there were any people. The first people to know me, the Aboriginal peoples of Australia, discovered my secrets thousands of years ago. They knew that if you crushed my leaves, the fresh smell could help you breathe when your nose felt stuffy. Much later, around the year 1770, visitors came from far away on big sailing ships. They had never seen a tree like me before. A man named Joseph Banks carefully collected some of my leaves and seeds to show his friends back in Europe. It was a very exciting day for me.

Today, I still love to help people and animals. My fresh, minty oil is used in little drops and cozy rubs that help you feel better when you have a cold. I am a safe home for koalas to nap in and many birds to build their nests. I am a strong and giving tree, and I love sharing my shady branches and my clean, happy smell with the whole world. Whenever you smell something fresh and minty, think of me, the Eucalyptus tree, giving the world a big, leafy hug.