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Sandalwood

Binomial Name(s): Santalum Album
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Santalales
Family: Santalaceae
Genus: Santalum
Species: S. album
Popular Name(s): Sandalwood, Chandana, White sandalwood, Yellow Sandalwood, Chandan, Chandanam, Srigandha
Parts Used: Wood and Oil
Habitat: Grown primarily in India

Description
Sandalwood can be described as the fragrant woods yielded by trees in the genus Santalum. The stem grows 20 to 30 feet high, is heavy and straight-grained and varies in color. It is white when young, and yellow and orange in color when old. Its oval leaves are covered with a whitish bloom; its small flowers are varying in color. The plant species is normally found in the dry peninsular areas of India, right from the peaks of the Vindhya to the southern zones of Tamil Nadu and Mysore. Apart from this, it is also found in some other states within the country, like Madhya Pradesh, Utter Pradesh, Orissa and Rajathan. The species have been utilized since ancient times for curing a number of ailments and diseases. It is very popular as an essential oil and its fragrance is also of great significance. For such reasons, cultivation and trading of this plant species have been done throughout the ages and the species has been exploited to such an extent that it is almost on the verge of getting extinct.

Plant Chemicals
Uses & Benefits of Sandalwood
Caution