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Australian eucalyptus trees also require fire to reproduce. The oil in the leaves is there to intensify the fire, destroying competing species.



Not true. There are many eucalypts. Some benefit from fire. Others benefit from cold. Most require neither and some probably require different seed release or germination stimuli.

A primary evolutionary purpose of the oils seems to be as a pathogen resistance measure, being antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal.




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