Common name: Bitter Quandong
Santalum murrayanum (Mitch.) C.A.Gardner APNI* Synonyms: Fusanus acuminatus var. angustifolia (A.DC.) Benth. APNI* Eucarya murrayana T.Mitch. APNI* Santalum angustifolium A.DC. APNI*
Description: Tall shrub or small tree to 4 m high, branches spreading to pendent.
Leaves opposite or in threes or alternate, narrow-lanceolate, mostly 1.5–3.5 cm, but up to 5 cm long, 1.5–4 mm wide, apex acute to acuminate with a short curved point, surfaces concolorous, grey to yellowish green.
Flowers numerous in large predominantly axillary panicles shorter than the leaves in the upper axils; peduncle 7–20 mm long, pedicels 1–2 mm long. Receptacle 1 mm long. Tepals ± ovate, 1.5–2 mm long, yellowish. Disc scarcely lobed. Stigma 3-lobed.
Drupe globose, 15–25 mm long, green to brownish red, with a small apical scar, bitter and inedible; endocarp wrinkled or slightly pitted.
Flowering: August–January
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in mallee communities; west from the Balranald district.
NSW subdivisions: SWP, SFWP
Other Australian states: Vic. W.A. S.A.
Threatened species: NSW BCA: Endangered
Text by B. Wiecek Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 3 (1992)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data ***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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