| Santalum murrayanum | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Santalales |
| Family: | Santalaceae |
| Genus: | Santalum |
| Species: | S. murrayanum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Santalum murrayanum | |
Santalum murrayanum, commonly known as the bitter quandong, is an Australian plant in the sandalwood family, Santalaceae. The Noongar name for the plant is coolyar.[1]
It bears a bitter fruit, from which a common name derives, in contrast to congener Santalum acuminatum - sweet quandong. The plant is also known as Ming.[2] It occurs in a hemi-parasitic relationship with the roots of several other plants, in a non-destructive way, as with all the species of the genus Santalum.
The shrub or small tree typically grows to a height of 1 to 5 metres (3 to 16 ft). It blooms between October and January producing white to yellow-green flowers. It is found on sandplains and dunes and has a scattered distribution through the Wheatbelt, Great Southern and Goldfields-Esperance regions of Western Australia where it grows in sandy or gravelly lateritic soils.[3]
- ^ "Noongar names for plants". kippleonline.net. Archived from the original on 20 November 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
- ^ http://www.wanatca.org.au/Q-Yearbook/Y5all.pdf West Australian Nutgrowing Society Yearbook
- ^ "Santalum murrayanum (T.Mitch.) C.A.Gardner". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.