Santalum acuminatum

Santalum acuminatum, the desert quandong, is a hemiparasitic plant in the sandalwood family, Santalaceae, (Native to Australia) which is widely dispersed throughout the central deserts and southern areas of Australia. The species, especially its edible fruit, is also commonly referred to as quandong or native peach. The use of the fruit as an exotic flavouring, one of the best known bush tucker (bush food), has led to the attempted domestication of the species. Desert quandong is an evergreen tree, its fruit can be stewed to make pie filling for quandong pies or made into a fruit juice drink. The seed (kernel) inside the tough shell can be extracted to be crushed into a paste then be used on sore gums or an oral gum boil to ease the pain. Because it is one of the few drought-tolerant fruit trees in far-west New South Wales, it is popular to grow among many Aboriginal communities and the non-Indigenous Australians who are aware of it.

Description

A small tree. It has an upright growth habit. It grows to 5-8 m high. It forms clumps in dunes due to underground suckers. The leaves are yellowish-green. They are leathery and slightly sickle shaped. The fruit are attractive, round and succulent. They turn bright red when ripe. They have a red outer skin surrounding a hard outer kernel which can be cracked open to reveal a nut. The nuts are edible. The fruit are 2-4 cm across. They have a single seed.

Edible Uses

The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked and is suitable for drying to preserve for later use. The seed is oily and nutritious but not considered very palatable.

Traditional Uses

The ripe fruit are eaten raw or cooked. They can be dried for later use. They can be used for jam and pies, syrups and chutneys. The seeds or nuts are eaten roasted. The seed kernel is 60% oil.

Medicinal Uses

The plant provides a liniment used on sores and boils.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It is native to Australia. It grows naturally in sandy soils in the drier interior regions of Australia. In tropical Queensland it grows from sea level to 900 m altitude. In the Inland Botanical Gardens Mildura. They are grown commercially near Quorn, South Australia. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 9-11.

Where It Grows

Australia*,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seed. They grow as a parasite on other roots.

Propagation

Propagate by seed.

Other Uses

The bark contains up to 18% tannin. The seed is rich in oil and burns in the manner of a candlenut. The wood is hard, heavy, and close-grained, used for making furniture. Being oily, it also makes an effective friction stick for fire-making.

Other Information

They are an attractive fruit. They are cultivated commercially occasionally.

Notes

There are 25 Santalum species. The seeds are 25% protein. The fruit are rich in Vitamin C.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Burn-burn, Dumbari, Guwadhaa, Quandong, Mangata, Native peach, Tatu, Wayanu, Western quandong

References (65)

• Alice, L. & O'Quinn, T., Australian Bush Superfoods. Explore Australia p 126
• Barwick, M., 2004, Tropical and Subtropical Trees. A Worldwide Encyclopedic Guide. Thames and Hudson p 362
• Bindon, P., 1996, Useful Bush Plants. Western Australian Museum. p 219
• Blomberry, A.M., 1979, Australian Native Plants. Angus and Robertson p
• Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 906

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