2/27/2010

Eucalyptus tree, gum tree

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Eucalyptus tree

***** Location: Kenya, Australia
***** Season: Topic
***** Category: Plant


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Explanation

The eucalyptus tree is an interesting topic in Kenya today.
It is an exotic tree introduced into the country by the colonialists.

It has however, over time proven very detrimental on the environment as it uses a lot of water thus making it difficult to be inter cropped with other plants or crops. That is why in the recent years, the Kenyan Ministry for environment issued a directive to the effect that the eucalyptus tree should be uprooted, given the rapid climate change that was sweeping across the country.

However, this tree, classified as a hardwood, produces excellent timber and firewood. The only good news is that there is a new species that has been introduced in the coastal province that does not use a lot of water and farmers are once gain being encouraged to plant this species.

The eucalyptus tree has more uses here in Kenya than just providing timber and firewood. It is a medicinal tree, whose seeds and tender leaves are used to make herbal medicine for flu and cold; the leaves are also used in making mint such as PK for chewing gum. The seeds are ground into powder and mixed with other herbs to produce medicine for toothache.

Patrick Wafula



Eucalyptus tree, blue gum tree


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Eucalyptus
is a diverse genus of flowering trees (and a few shrubs) in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Members of the genus dominate the tree flora of Australia. There are more than 700 species of Eucalyptus, mostly native to Australia, and a very small number are found in adjacent parts of New Guinea and Indonesia and one as far north as the Philippine archipelago. Only 15 species occur outside Australia, and only 9 do not occur in Australia. Species of Eucalyptus are cultivated throughout the tropics and subtropics including the Americas, Europe, Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East, China and the Indian Subcontinent.

Eucalyptus is one of three similar genera that are commonly referred to as "eucalypts," the others being Corymbia and Angophora. Many, but far from all, are known as gum trees because many species exude copious sap from any break in the bark (e.g. Scribbly Gum).
The name eucalyptus comes from the Greek: εὐκάλυπτος, eukályptos, meaning "well covered", or "beautiful bark" according to linguist Ahmed Seddik.

Eucalyptus was first introduced from Australia to the rest of the world by Sir Joseph Banks, botanist, on the Cook expedition in 1770. It was subsequently introduced to many parts of the world, notably California, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, Ethiopia, Morocco, Portugal, South Africa, Uganda, Israel, Galicia and Chile. In Spain, eucalypts have been planted in pulpwood plantations.
© More in the WIKIPEDIA !


blue gum

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Worldwide use

Eukalyptus


Australia saijiki ... Eucalyptus

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Japan

yuukari ユーカリ / 有加利
Eucalyptus globus
. . . CLICK here for Photos !


夏嵐ユーカリの鉢くつがへす
natsu arashi yuukari no hachi kutsugaesu

summer storm ...
the pot with eucalyptus
is overthrown


Chanko san ちやこさん
source : haiku.blog.livedoor.com


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Things found on the way



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HAIKU



the ducklings
under the eucalyptus shade - -
i unbutton my shirt

Antony Njoroge

source : Kenya Saijiki Forum


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sunny afternoon--
lying on the blue gum's
bark strips

open air market--
eucalyptus seeds fall
in simmering chips

bear roots--
the eucalyptus leaves
withers


James Bundi
Kenya, March 2010


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the herbalist gives me
blue gum seeds powder--
toothache


I had a toothache and went to the herbalist outside Baba Shiro's hardware. I was given toothache medicine, only to learn later that it was pulverized blue gum seeds!


Ngong Road--
the scent of blue gum
tickles my nose



Partrick Wafula
Kenya, March 2010


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eucalyptus--
the sound of dead leaves
dragging on the floor


Railway Museum -
a dead blue gum leaf
on the cabin floor


Caleb Mutua
March 2010


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long rain--
a farmer planting
eucalyptus trees


Victor Obutho


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sunny noon--
she reads a novel under
eucalyptus shadow


Synaidah Kalahi



eucalyptus shadow-
he picks up a rusty
door hinge


Pauline Wayua



suddenly
a eucalyptus branch falls
with a bang


Dennis Oyiengo


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more eucalyptus haiku

Kenya Saijiki Forum, November 2011


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eucalyptus canopy
umbrella for
koalas


facebook : Lorraine Margueritte Gasrel Black



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humid afternoon -
the shadow of eucalyptus enters
my open window


- Shared by Surmeet Maavi, India -
Joys of Japan, August 2012

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evening breeze-
bluegum leaves tumble
down the old hut


Siboko Yamame, Kenya, 2014


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Related words

***** Australia saijiki ... Eucalyptus


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2 comments:

Ella Wagemakers said...

waking cockatoo...
a eucalyptus tree
sheds its bark

Nguthijosephk said...

Poor me, it's only today that i have come to associate eucalyptus with blue gum. How ignorant?