Santalum acuminatum ( Robert Brown, 1810) Quondong or Sweet Quandong SANTALACEAE

Elizabeth Gordon-Mills & Don Herbison-Evans, (donherbisonevans@yahoo.com)

bush in fruit

This plant grows as a bush, up to 6 metres in height. It has drooping branches, and long leaves: typically about 7 centimetres long and 1 centimetre wide.

foliage

The flowers are small and pale green or brown, and occur in clusters of up to 50.

flowers

The fruit is round and red, up to 2.5 centimetres across, and contains a large hard shelled seed.

fruit and seeds

The plant is semi-parasitic on the roots of other plants, from which it takes water and minerals. It can use various other plants as hosts,including :

Clovers ( FABACEAE ).

haustaurium: young plant growing on a host root.

The fruit is used for making jams and other fruit products. The wood has a delightful smell.

The species is widespread in arid areas of Australia, particularly in South Australia and Western Australia. The plants are grown commercially.

The plant is host to a number of Lepidoptera species, including:

Paraepermenia santaliella EPERMENIDAE feeds in the fruit

Delias aganippe PIERIDAE feeds on the leaves

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(updated 11 August 2007)