Santalum obtusifolium

Santalum obtusifolium, known as the sandalwood or blunt sandalwood, is a shrub found in eastern Australia. Often seen around a metre tall, it may grow to 2.5 metres high. Seen in eucalyptus forests and woodlands, often by creeks and usually not far from the sea. It grows in moderate to high rainfall areas such as Royal and Lamington National Parks. Growing as far from the coast as Yarrowitch, Megalong Valley and Braidwood in New South Wales.

Santalum obtusifolium
near Narooma, Australia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Santalales
Family: Santalaceae
Genus: Santalum
Species:
S. obtusifolium
Binomial name
Santalum obtusifolium
Synonyms
  • Fusanus crassifolius

Unlike other sandalwood species, little is known of its fruit, wood, or other uses. However, there are reports the fruit is edible.[1] According to Butaud 2008, there is Ximenynic acid (71.5%) and Oleic acid (14.3%) in the fruit kernels.[2]

The specific epithet obtusifolium is from Latin, and it refers to the blunt leaves. This plant first appeared in the scientific literature in 1810, in the Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae, authored by the prolific Scottish botanist, Robert Brown.

References
  1. Les Robinson - Field Guide to the Native Plants of Sydney, ISBN 978-0-7318-1211-0 page 209
  2. Medicinal Plants in Australia, Volume 1. Cheryll Williams page 274. ISBN 978-1-877058-79-0


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