Eucalyptus Globulus

Scientific Name: Eucalyptus globulus

Common Name: Blue gum

Family: Myrtaceae or the myrtle family

Names in other languages: Amharic (nech bahir zaf); Creole Patois (kaliptis); English (turpentinegas,tasmanian blue gum eucalypt,Tasmanian blue gum,southern blue gum,fever tree,blue gum eucalyptus,blue gum); Japanese (yukari-no-ki);Spanish (eucalipto); Swahili (mkaratusi); Tigrigna (tsaeda-kelamitos)

General Information

Eucalyptus globulus, commonly known as southern blue gum or blue gum, is a species of tall, evergreen tree endemic to southeastern Australia. This Eucalyptus species has mostly smooth bark, juvenile leaves that are whitish and waxy on the lower surface, glossy green, lance-shaped adult leaves, glaucous, ribbed flower buds arranged singly or in groups of three or seven in leaf axils, white flowers and woody fruit. There are four subspecies, each with a different distribution across Australia, occurring in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. The subspecies are the Victorian blue gum, Tasmanian blue gum, Maiden's gum, and Victorian eurabbie.

Features of Eucalyptus globulus that make it identifiable:

The bark is smoothish,a mottled gray, brown, and greenish or bluish, peeling in long strips, at base becoming gray, rough and

shaggy, thick and finely furrowed.

The Leaves alternate are narrowly lance shaped, 10-30 cm long, 2.5-5 cm wide, mostly curved or sickle shaped, long-pointed at tip, short-pointed at base, not toothed on edges, hairless, thick, leathery, with fine, straight veins and vein inside margin, shiny, dark green on both surfaces, aromatic with an odour like that of camphor when crushed.

The Flowers are very short, flattened stalk, more than 5 cm across the very numerous, spreading, white stamens

about 12-15 mm long, with odor of camphor

Fruits or seed capsules long, dull brownish green; many small, sterile seeds.

Uses

Eucalyptus globulus Essential Oil is probably most well known for its wonderful benefits for respiratory applications including helping to ease congestion and pressure, colds, flu, fever and bronchitis. It's also a great essential oil to use in massage or other topical blends to ease muscular pain and arthritis.