Botanical atlas

Blue Mallee Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus polybractea

Long before it was bottled and sold, Blue Mallee's narrow, silvery leaves were crushed and steeped by Aboriginal Australians and later by colonial settlers to help clear a stuffy chest and take the edge off a cold. Because this particular mallee carries an unusually high concentration of aromatic cineol oil in its leaves, it became one of the favored species when Australia's eucalyptus oil industry took root in the mallee country during the late 1800s. Bushmen tucked the crushed leaves into their swags for a whiff of relief, and the household vapor rubs still found in medicine cabinets today trace their lineage straight back to this modest, fragrant little tree.

Safety.

Eucalyptus essential oil is dangerous if swallowed undiluted, even a small amount has caused serious poisoning in children, so keep it stored well out of reach and never take it internally. It should also be avoided by anyone with a seizure disorder.