Eucalyptus trees

Eucalyptus is a genus of over seven hundred species of flowering trees, shrubs in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, they are native to Australia, Tasmania, and islands nearby. Economically, eucalyptus trees establish one of the most valued groups within the order Myrtales. They are known as gum trees or stringybark in Australia. They have bark that is either smooth, fibrous, hard or stringy, leaves with oil glands, and sepals and petals that are fused to form a "cap" or operculum over the stamens. The fruit is a woody capsule commonly referred to as a "gumnut".

Eucalyptus plantations are lucrative.  Portugal has a greater proportion of whose surface is covered by these trees than any other country.

Eucalyptus are accused of a different range of sins:

-depleting groundwater: Its root system absorbs a lot of water from soil. Thus, the plant dehydrates the surroundings.

 -raising fires,

-boosting erosion,

-vitiating watersheds,

 -preventing native flora with voracious roots

These are major difficulties with eucalyptus for which it is not a favorite planting. It damages the soil wherever planted by drawing away available soil nutrients fast and by adding nil substantial in return.

The plant is unfriendly to avian fauna. Nest building is not potential at smooth branch bases. Also, the tree is neither good for roosting nor as evening shelter. It is therefore not worthy from environmental point of view. Thus Eucalyptus is recommended for planting in poor soils with deficient moisture situations where anything else is hard to be raised.

Their leaf has a volatile aromatic oil known as eucalyptus oil. Its chief use is medical, and it constitutes an active ingredient in expectorants and inhalants. Eucalyptus wood is extensively used in Australia as fuel, and the timber is commonly used in buildings and fencing.

References:

1. https://www.britannica.com/plant/Eucalyptus (Image Source)

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eucalyptus

3. https://homeguides.sfgate.com/eucalyptus-tree-information-38193.html

4. https://theconversation.com/global/topics/eucalyptus-trees-81059