Corfu's eucalyptus trees
Like most visitors to Corfu, I was surprised to see so many eucalyptus trees gracing the island’s parks, streets and green spaces.
A little research reveals they were introduced to Corfu by Theodoros Orphanides, a 19th century botanist who was interested to see how foreign plants could benefit Greece. He was particularly taken by the eucalyptus, renowned as a fast-growing and resilient tree able to thrive in swampy areas. But even more important was its reputed capacity to combat malaria – in Greece, a major public health issue at the time.
Well, the tree, with its high rate of water absorption, did indeed help drain the swamps, reduce the mosquito population and the incidence of malaria.
Over time, the tree became a common sight in many parts of Greece. It provided much-needed shade and became a valuable timber resource. Today, it’s very much a part of the Greek urban and open landscapes – and look at its size! (For contrast, note the woman passing by.)
Corfu's eucalyptus trees
Like most visitors to Corfu, I was surprised to see so many eucalyptus trees gracing the island’s parks, streets and green spaces.
A little research reveals they were introduced to Corfu by Theodoros Orphanides, a 19th century botanist who was interested to see how foreign plants could benefit Greece. He was particularly taken by the eucalyptus, renowned as a fast-growing and resilient tree able to thrive in swampy areas. But even more important was its reputed capacity to combat malaria – in Greece, a major public health issue at the time.
Well, the tree, with its high rate of water absorption, did indeed help drain the swamps, reduce the mosquito population and the incidence of malaria.
Over time, the tree became a common sight in many parts of Greece. It provided much-needed shade and became a valuable timber resource. Today, it’s very much a part of the Greek urban and open landscapes – and look at its size! (For contrast, note the woman passing by.)