Broad-leaved peppermint facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eucalyptus dives |
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E. dives
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| Eucalyptus dives Schauer
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The Eucalyptus dives tree, also known as the broad-leaved peppermint, is a small tree that grows in the dry woodlands and forests of south-eastern Australia. You can easily recognize it by its leaves, which have a strong smell like peppermint!
Contents
What is Broad-Leaved Peppermint?
This special eucalyptus tree is found in temperate areas. It likes dry places, often growing in forests where the trees have tough, leathery leaves that can handle dry conditions.
Why is it Called Peppermint?
The name "peppermint" comes from the strong, fresh smell of its leaves. If you crush a leaf, you'll notice the scent right away! This smell comes from the natural oils inside the leaves.
Uses of Eucalyptus dives
The leaves of the broad-leaved peppermint tree are very useful because they contain a lot of oil. About 4.7% of a fresh leaf's weight is oil!
Making Useful Products
When this oil is distilled (a process that separates liquids by heating and cooling), it can be used to make methanol. Methanol is a type of alcohol used in many industries, including as a fuel or a solvent. A large amount of Eucalyptus dives is grown in commercial farms in eastern Transvaal, South Africa, just for this purpose.
A Special Flavoring
In Australia, the leaves have also been used as a flavoring. People sometimes added them to brewed black Camellia sinensis tea, especially in traditional "billy tea." This gave the tea a unique, minty taste.
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Pair of leaves: top-side and under-side
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Adult leaf
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Young leaves of the piperitone chemotype, Eucalyptus dives
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Flowers of Eucalyptus dives
See also
In Spanish: Eucalyptus dives para niños
