The Tough, the Opportunistic T he eucalypt has prevailed over the Australian continent to an extent unrivalled by any other genus anywhere else in the world. The flexibility of the genus is extraordinary.
Most people agree the eucalypt is a true symbol of Australia.
But few people appreciate the extent to which the prevalence of Eucalyptus has transformed the Australian landscape. The eucalypt became a supreme opportunist, ready to seize disturbed and open sites. They could capture nutrients released by fire far in excess of their immediate needs and store them for future use. Bark was thick, tough and it shed as it burned. If branches were seared off, new ones could sprout from epicormic buds hidden safely beneath the bark.