Eucalyptus

An occasional sight on the island. It is easily recognisable by its long leaves and peeling pastel coloured rust and cream bark. Eucalyptus trees are amongst the largest trees to be found on Corfu. In the 19th century they were commonly known as “Fever Trees” due to their miraculous ability to reduce the number of cases of malaria in the vicinity. Malaria from the Italian “Male Aria” literally “ bad air” was believed to be an illness caused primarily by living in an area close to swamps or marshland and the associated smells from the stagnant water. The Eucalyptus is fast growing and has the ability to absorb large quantities of water, which then evaporates through the leaves thereby helping to dry the land. The pleasing smell of eucalyptus helped to alleviate any pungent odours and it is thought the leaves in the water made the environment unsuitable for mosquito larvae.