Because "oak tree" and "family tree" were already taken.

It smells like menthol cough drops. Eucalyptus trees grow very fast and are resistant to disease, but not many sorts of wildlife live among them. They have been introduced to South America, were they cover many hectares and are considered by many an invasive species.

There are many native Australian trees that provide good softwoods. One of the first was Red Cedar, a rainforest tree. This tree was heavily logged, however, and so is now almost unavailable. It is also officially a hardwood, although it's timber is very soft and easily worked. Another similar soft 'hardwood' is Blackwood, an acacia found in North West Tasmania. Australia has some native true softwoods, like the Kauri Pine, also almost completely logged out, with most remaining specimens in National Parks. These days, most softwoods in use in Australia are imported or introduced conifers like Hoop and Caribbean pines.

The most common name for the eucalyptus tree is gum tree. This is because eucalyptus trees exude a sticky resin, or gum.

The kangaroo paw is a small, flowering shrub native to the far southwestern corner of Western Australia. This is the only place where these plants grow in the wild. They can grow in a variety of habitats, from coastal heath to the edge of swamps and rivers, and grassland to light bushland.

Sturt's Desert Pea is a legume, but does not taste pleasant. Nonetheless, it is quite safe and non-toxic.

There is so much variation in the height of eucalyptus trees and the height depends on the species. The smallest are around 6 feet and the tallest is around 330 feet. There are over 500 species of eucalypts. Growing conditions can also greatly affect the mature height.

New eucalyptus species and subspecies are regularly being recognised, so it is hard to give a definitive answer. Currently, there are over 900 eucalyptus species and subspecies, and over 600 are native to Australia.

There is no plant simply called the "kangaroo plant", but there is a native Australian shrub called the Kangaroo paw which can be difficult to grow in the eastern states - and almost impossible in the north. The native habitat of the kangaroo paw is in Western Australia, where the climate is dry and the soil is sandy and well-drained. Thus, they need a position in full sun, in sandy soil where their roots are not continuously damp or will not become waterlogged after rain. Start by digging a large hole and adding some potting mix suitable for native Australian plants. Kangaroo paw benefit from having some organic material (such as composted leaf litter) added to the soil. It is a good idea also to include a low-release fertiliser which is made for Australian plants. Do not add "Blood and Bone", as this can damage native plants.

While the plants are being established, water them every couple of days, but after they are established they should only be watered during hot, dry periods, and then only occasionally. A little seaweed-based soil tonic such as Seasol is good during the initial establishment period as well.

Eucalyptus trees are most commonly associated with Australia, as certain species form the sole food source for koalas. In Australia they are called "gum trees". However, other species of eucalyptus trees can be found in New Zealand, China, India, Thailand, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Nigeria, Brazil, USA and Italy.

Who is the famous person from gondwana rain forest

protecting things from boring insects

The kangaroo paw plant of Western Australia is a unique plant, the unopened flowers of which bear some resemblance to a kangaroo's paw. It is long and slender, like the forepaw of a kangaroo.

To see a picture of the kangaroo paw, click on the related link.

Neither eucalyptus trees nor the eucalyptus oil that can be extracted from the leaves is "poisonous". However, it does contain some toxins which can cause acute gastric problems if ingested.

The few animals which feed on eucalyptus leaves, such as koalas, Ringtail possums and Greater gliders, are able to filter out the toxins through their digestive systems.

• Eucalyptus - the well-known 'gum trees' with over 600 species in Australia, including Tasmania's emblem, the Tasmanian Blue Gum
• Acacia, known more commonly as the wattle tree - many species exist throughout Australia, in all conditions, as it is a highly adaptable plant; Australia's national floral emblem is the Golden Wattle
• Banksia - named by botanist Sir Joseph Banks who was with Captain Cook when he charted Australia's eastern coast
• Blackboy, or grass trees
• Bunya Pine, Wollemi Pine, Hoop Pine
• Callistemon, also known as the bottlebrush
• Casuarina
• Common heath, floral emblem of Victoria
• Correa, a small to medium sized shrub
• Dryandra, closely related to the banksia
• Eremophila, also known as the Emu bush
• Ferns - many varieties, particularly common in rainforests
• Fabaceae, also common to rainforests, tropical and temperate zones - includes a variety of herbs, vines, shrubs, trees, and lianas
• Hakea
• Grevillea (spider flower) - related to Hakeas. One example is the Silky Oak (Grevillea robusta).
• Hardenbergias - vines with beautiful pea flowers
• Leptospermum, more commonly known as the tea-tree
• Leschenaultia, a beautiful Western Australian wildflower
• Kangaroo paw, an unusual flower from the western half of the continent, and the floral emblem of WA
• Kurrajong
• Mallee
• Melaleuca, another very adaptable and versatile species
• Moreton Bay Fig
• Mulga
• Native Hibiscus, different to the exotic hibiscus favoured by many gardeners
• Isopogon and petrophile - low growing shrubs
• Palm trees, such as the Pandanus Palm, Alexandra (King) Palm, Cabbage Tree Palm and Foxtail
• Sturt's Desert Rose and Sturt's Desert Pea, both desert flowering shrubs, and the emblems of NT and SA respectively
• Vines such as the Strangler Fig
• Waratah (NSW floral emblem)
• Triodia, also known as spinifex grass, which grows in the desert
• Zygochloa, another desert grass

  One could also add the Norfolk Island Pine (Auracaria heterophylla) which is in the same genus as Bunya Pine. However, it is not found naturally on the Australian mainland, but is native to the Australian offshore territory of Norfolk island.

  For a more complete listing, see the related link.

Many Australian desert or plants in drought-prone regions or semi-arid areas survive because they store water underground or in their stalks.

Others have leaves that furl inwards, preserving them against loss of water in the hot conditions.

Still others have branches that funnel downwards towards the ground directly around the base of their trunk, and this has the effect of directing any moisture from rain or condensation to the plant's roots.

Some eucalypts have exceedingly deep root systems that can reach the underground water table.

Eucalyptus trees have numerous adaptations to enable them to thrive in Australia. The trees have poisonous fibrous leaves to limit animals from eating them. Apart from koalas, Greater gliders and Ringtail possums, all of which can eat mature eucalyptus leaves, Australia's native animals can only eat the young shoots of eucalyptus trees.

Eucalyptus trees are specially adapted for Australia's bushfire-prone climate. They are known as 'sprouters', which are adult plants that can survive a fire and resprout from the roots or stems. They rely less on seed germination, which is fairly low anyway, than they do on sprouting to ensure continuation of the species. In addition, many eucalyptus species have lignotubers, which are specialised root/crown structures located beneath the soil surface, containing many food-storing cells and shoot-forming structures. Therefore, the lignotubers of eucalyptus trees protet young shoots and provide food for these shoots when they first emerge after a bushfire. Further, also seed germination is low, it is largely reliant on fire to stimulate it. Many types of eucalyptus trees have hard, woody capsules that protect the seeds during fire, but which open after fire, releasing their seeds.

The way eucalyptus trees grow is also an adaptation. Many species have wide, spreading canopies which redirect the limited rain that falls down the trunk to concentrate around the roots. The leaves of a eucalyptus tree hang down, rather than horizontally, minimising evaporation and hence water loss (transpiration), as they are not as exposed to sunlight. The leaves usually have equal numbers of stoma on each side, unlike trees which hold their leaves horizontally - they tend to have all or most of their stoma on the lower side. The leaves also tend to have a thick, waxy coating which also minimises water loss.

Swainsona Formosa or Stuart's Desert Pea is a plant in Australia that grows in arid places. The plant have hard coated seed and taproot viable in the desert's harsh environment.