Santalum acuminatum aka Burn Burn

Santalum acuminatum is an evergreen shrub or small tree. Its common names include quandong and sweet quandong. It belongs to the sandalwood family, Santalaceae. This Australian native grows across southern and south-central parts of the mainland. Its range includes dry inland sites in several states. People gather its fruit from wild plants and grow it commercially.

Its size and shape vary a great deal. One reference lists a height of about 16 feet [5 metres]. The wider reported range is 3–33 feet [1–10 metres]. It grows upright, with branches that spread or hang down. Sparse leaves give the crown an open look. Their colour ranges from pale green to olive green. The plant keeps its leaves through the year. Each flower has both male and female organs.

Quandong grows in dry shrubland and several kinds of woodland. It occurs on sandy ground and gravel ridges. It also grows in loam and clay. Many wild sites have poor soil that drains well. In gardens, it accepts mildly acid, neutral, or mildly alkaline soil. It can grow in full sun or light shade. Plants For A Future lists a preference for moist soil. Useful Tropical Plants places its main climate range in dry subtropical lowlands. That source gives its best daytime temperatures as 18–25°C.

Its roots draw water and nutrients from nearby host plants. This makes it a root hemiparasite, rather than a fully independent plant. Growth suffers when no host grows within reach. This need matters when choosing a garden site. Plants For A Future suggests a sunny woodland edge. The evidence supports seed as a means of raising new plants. It gives no detailed method for choosing or establishing hosts.

The fruit has long served as food for Aboriginal Australians. People eat it fresh, cook it, or dry it for storage. The seeds contain oil and nutrients, but their taste is less appealing. The sources report no known hazards. Traditional uses include a skin liniment for sores and boils. The bark contains tannin, while the dense, heavy wood serves for furniture. Its oily wood also serves as friction sticks for lighting fires. Oil-rich seeds can burn as a source of light.