Santalum spicatum

Taxobox
name = Santalum spicatum


image_width = 200px
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Santalales
familia = Santalaceae
genus = "Santalum"
species = spicatum"
binomial = "Santalum spicatum"
binomial_authority = (R.Br.) A.DC.

"Santalum spicatum", a species known as Australian sandalwood, is a tree native to semi-arid [ Sandalwood(Santalum Spicatum) Guide for Farmers - Tree Facts pamphlet- Forest Products Commision - April 2007 specifically states Wheatbelt and areas with minimum 400 mm annual rainfall ] areas at the edge of Southwest Australia. It is traded as sandalwood and its valuable oil has been used as an aromatic, a medicine and a food source. "S. spicatum" is one of four high value Santalum species occurring in Australia.

Description

It belongs to the family "Santalaceae" and is one of four species to occur in Western Australia. It has a similar distribution to quandong ("Santalum acuminatum")and is a hemi-parasite requiring macro-nutrients from roots of hosts. It has a shrubby to small tree habit, but can grow to 6 metres and is tolerant of drought and salt. The foliage is grey-green in colour. The fruit of "S. spicatum" is spherical, about 3 cm in diameter and is orange. An edible kernel with a hard shell forms the bulk of the fruit; the shell is smoother than "S. acuminatum's" deeply pitted surface. Germination occurs during warm and moist conditions. The impact of over cultivation and land clearing for agriculture, since the 1880s, has greatly reduced the range of the species. The oils produced by the tree contain a greater complexity of chemicals, many of which have antimicrobial qualities.cite web | url = http://florabase.calm.wa.gov.au/browse/flora?f=092&level=g&id=523 | title = "Santalum" | accessdate = 2007-04-29 | author = | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | date = | year = 2002 | month = August | format = | work = Florabase | publisher = Department of Environment and conservation | pages = | language = | archiveurl = | archivedate = | quote = /browse/flora?f=092&level=g&id=523 et al]

Commercial use

The harvest and export of "S. spicatum" has been an important part of the west Australian economy, at one time forming more than half of the states revenue. Settlement of the Wheatbelt area was accelerated by the funds generated by 'Sandalwood' found there. Distribution and population of the endemic stands were significantly affected during periods of rural development and economic downturn.

Research by the Forestry Products Commission (Western Australia), State universities and private industry is being undertaken into the cultivation of the tree and the properties of its wood and nuts. [http://www.newcrops.uq.edu.au/newslett/ncnl2-54.htm University of Queensland site's detail] [ [http://www.australian-aridlands-botanic-garden.org/general/plants/p_spec/sawo.htm Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden - Plants: Sandalwood, Santalum spicatum ] ] Replanting has occurred at some properties as a land restoration strategy, a food crop and in the long term for harvest. Oil valued at $1 000(Au) per kilogram is produced at Mount Romance in Albany, Western Australia. [cite web | url = http://www.abc.net.au/landline/content/2006/s1908473.htm | title = High hopes for native sandalwood | accessdate =2007-05-01 | author = | last = Murphy | first = Sean (reporter) | authorlink = | coauthors = | date =2007-04-27 | year = | month = | format = | work = Landline (transcript) | publisher = ABC | pages = | language = | archiveurl = | archivedate = | quote = Most of WA's native sandalwood harvest ends up at the Mt Romance essential oil factory in Albany, on the south coast of WA. It's converted into liquid gold, fetching as much as $1,000 a kilogram. ] The area of commercial plantations has risen from 7 to 70 km² between 2000 and 2006. The export of 2 000 tonnes of sandalwood a year is primarily sourced from plantations. The harvest of naturally occurring trees is reduced when compared to the industry of the nineteenth century. Exports of over 50 000 tonnes in the last decade were related to agricultural expansion by increased access and harvesters. [http://www.fpc.wa.gov.au/pdfs/sandalwood_detail.pdf WA Gov site's detail]

Cultivation

Germination is difficult and may depend on the El Niño cycle. Success has been reported by placing the kernels in moist vermiculite in sealed plastic bags at room temperature. Once germinated, it should be planted next to a (preferably Australian native) seedling, and watered adequately.

Host Species

The main host species is Acacia acuminata which is used in plantations which sustains a 15 to 30 year long term host species in loamy sands over clay duplex soils. Rock sheaok Allocasuarina huegeliana, wodjil Acacia resinimarginea and mulga Acacia aneura are also used [ Sandalwood Guide for Farmers states "being a root hemi-parasitic tree.. it is planted with a nitrogen-fixing host species such as jam (Acacia acuminata" ]

References