Eucalyptus

The Eucalyptus tree is a flowering plant so common in Australia today that we almost take it for granted.  First appearing in the fossil pollen record in central Australia, Eucalypts are not recorded at south-eastern Australian sites until after around 35 million years ago.  Even then, this plant genus which now boasts over 700 species appears to have been a relatively small part of the landscape. Well adapted to dry conditions and poor soils, Eucalyptus probably rose to dominate the Australian environment quite recently, thanks to its ability to survive and recover from fire.