How Do Eucalyptus Trees Reproduce?

Eucalyptus trees are indigenous to Australia. They are interesting to environmentalists because they are one of the fastest-growing trees on the planet, and naturally resistant to insects and disease. They are interesting to land owners because of their attractive shredded bark and pleasant smell. There are actually more than 700 species of eucalyptus--some of them shrubs--and they reproduce through a variety of methods.

Like a lot of trees, the eucalyptus can pollinate itself. Self-pollination generally results in a reduction in the number of seeds produced and seedling vigour. If available, other forms of pollination will override self-pollination. Eucalyptus trees seem to prefer to breed by outcrossing, in which different strains of eucalyptus breed with each other.

Eucalyptus trees can be pollinated by insects that come to visit the flowers. The chief advantage of this method is that--because insects fly--a large number of faraway trees can be pollinated. Most insects are repulsed by the aromatic oils given off by eucalyptus trees.

Eucalyptus pollen and eucalyptus seeds are quite hardy and can be carried by birds an other animals--including koalas. The trouble with this method is that not a lot of animals tend to visit eucalyptus trees. Koalas spend their whole lives in eucalyptus trees, but these creatures tend to be lethargic and often spend months in a single tree.

Eucalyptus trees often grow near streams and rivers. Eucalyptus seeds have evolved the property of floating for a few hours and then sinking. Inundation of the trunks automatically releases the seeds, so flood periods result in heavy seed dispersal.

In the absence of pollen or seed dispersal systems, eucalyptus trees can propagate by starting new plants from pieces of the old tree. A branch or twig of the eucalyptus tree planted in the ground will grow into a new tree. During storms, parts blown off one tree and embedded in another tree have been known to give rise to a single tree with two lines of DNA.

Eucalyptus trees have been reproducing for a long time. They are thought to have evolved before the continent of Gondwana began to break up 140 million years ago and Australia separated from New Guinea and Antarctica. Eucalyptus forests were well-established before the first aborigines came to Australia 61,000 years ago.