Common Name: Quandong
Botanical Name: Santalum acuminatum
Family: SANTALACEAE
Description:
Medium shrub to small, rough-barked tree, 2-5 m high. Bark slightly furrowed, light to dark grey-brown. Distinctly pale, light green, opposite, tapering to a short hooked tip, 5-15 cm long by 5-10 mm wide. Small, cream flowers, in branched terminal clusters, with 4 triangular lobes/segments that remain attached to the mature fruits. Late spring to summer. Large, globular, 2-3 cm diameter, with red (when mature) fleshy covering over a deeply pitted, woody 'stone', enclosed seed is an edible kernel. Late winter to spring.
Medium shrub to small, rough-barked tree, 2-5 m high. Bark slightly furrowed, light to dark grey-brown. Distinctly pale, light green, opposite, tapering to a short hooked tip, 5-15 cm long by 5-10 mm wide. Small, cream flowers, in branched terminal clusters, with 4 triangular lobes/segments that remain attached to the mature fruits. Late spring to summer. Large, globular, 2-3 cm diameter, with red (when mature) fleshy covering over a deeply pitted, woody 'stone', enclosed seed is an edible kernel. Late winter to spring.
Natural Distribution:
Distributed throughout lower rainfall regions in all agricultural districts of SA. Extends into all mainland States. Common to mallee and northern arid areas.
Distributed throughout lower rainfall regions in all agricultural districts of SA. Extends into all mainland States. Common to mallee and northern arid areas.
Notes:
A root parasite that requires a host plant during its early life. A traditional Aboriginal food source. Fruit produced commercially for the bush food industry. Also eaten by emus.
A root parasite that requires a host plant during its early life. A traditional Aboriginal food source. Fruit produced commercially for the bush food industry. Also eaten by emus.
