desert quandong

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Desert Peach
• Desert Quandong
• Sweet Quandong
• burn-burn
• sweet ouandong
• western quandong

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Fusanus acuminatus var. angustifolia
• Mida acuminata
• Eucarya acuminata
• Fusanus acuminatus
• Santalum densiflorum
• Santalum cognatum
• Santalum preissianum
• Santalum preissii
• Santalum angustifolium

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Santalales, falling into the family Santalaceae. Finally, its taxonomic hierarchy concludes with the genus Santalum, of which Santalum acuminatum is a member.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Santalum acuminatum, exhibits a widespread distribution across the diverse landscapes of Australia. It can be found growing naturally in the state of New South Wales. Its presence extends northward into the tropical and arid regions of the Northern Territory. Furthermore, the species is documented within the coastal and inland areas of Queensland. Finally, its range reaches into the southern parts of the continent, including South Australia and Victoria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Santalum acuminatum is characterized by its nature as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment over many growing seasons. Throughout its developmental stages, the plant maintains an evergreen status, retaining its foliage consistently rather than shedding it seasonally.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Santalum acuminatum is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, exhibiting a self-supporting structure that does not require climbing or liana-like assistance. As a terrestrial plant, it grows independently and does not function as an epiphyte or a parasite. The plant reaches various heights depending on environmental conditions, with a minimum height of 1 m, a maximum height of 7 m, and a mean height of approximately 5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

7 m

Plant height mean:

5 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Santalum acuminatum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation and energy production processes. The plant's vegetative structure includes leaves that exhibit significant morphological variability, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 9 cm. In terms of lateral expansion, the leaf width is relatively narrow, spanning from a minimum of 0.3 cm to a maximum of 1.5 cm. Furthermore, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the soil environment for available nitrogen rather than through symbiotic nitrogen-fixing mechanisms.

Leaf length max:

9 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf width max:

1.5 cm

Leaf width min:

0.3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Santalum acuminatum is characterized by the production of fleshy fruits classified as drupes. These fruits are indehiscent, meaning they do not split open at maturity to release their contents, which is consistent with their fleshy texture. The seeds contained within these fruits are relatively substantial, exhibiting a mean seed mass of approximately 2.54444 g, with individual seed masses ranging from a minimum of 2.4108 g to a maximum of 2.67808 g. In terms of physical dimensions, the seeds maintain a consistent volume, with both the minimum and maximum recorded values, as well as the mean volume, reaching 3100 mm³.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit type :

drupe

Seed mass max:

2.67808 g

Seed mass mean:

2.54444 g

Seed mass min:

2.4108 g

Seed volume max:

3100 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Santalum acuminatum has 14 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 5-HT, Ash, CALCIUM, COPPER, EO.

5-HT

1. Life sciences

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

COPPER

1. Dr. Duke

EO

1. Dr. Duke

FAT

1. Dr. Duke

MAGNESIUM

1. Dr. Duke

NEROLIDOL

1. Dr. Duke

POTASSIUM

1. Dr. Duke

SODIUM

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Santalum acuminatum has 168 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, ACE-Inhibitor, Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor, Allergenic, Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor.

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Anemiagenic

1. Dr. Duke

Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker

1. Dr. Duke

AntiBPH

1. Dr. Duke

AntiCFS

1. Dr. Duke

Preparations

Santalum acuminatum has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Extracts.

Extracts

1. Life sciences