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Australian eucalyptus trees also require fire to reproduce. The oil in the leaves is there to intensify the fire, destroying competing species.
by cjs_ac 2y ago
Australian eucalyptus trees also require fire to reproduce. The oil in the leaves is there to intensify the fire, destroying competing species.
- contingencies 2y agoNot true. There are many eucalypts. Some benefit from fire. Others benefit from cold. Most require neither and some probably require different seed release or germination stimuli. A primary evolutionary purpose of the oils seems to be as a pathogen resistance measure, being antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal.