Indicative distribution
The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas.
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click here to see geographic restrictions).
The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.
Scientific name: Santalum murrayanum
Profile last updated:
05 Oct 2023
Description
Tall shrub or small shapely tree to five metres high, with long pendulous branchlets and smooth bark. Leaves grey-green or silvery-green, opposite or some in whorls of 3, narrow and tapering to a curved point, mostly 1.5-3.5 cm long, 1.5-4 mm wide. Flowers small and cream-coloured, clustered in the leaf axils. Fruit spherical, somewhat fleshy, green to brownish red, 2-3 cm in diameter, the stone slightly pitted. The fruit is very bitter and is considered inedible.
Distribution
The Bitter Quandong occurs between inland southern Western Australia, through South Australia, east to north-western Victoria and south-western New South Wales. Many of the NSW records occur within the vicinity of the Sturt Highway (between Dareton and Balranald), but recently more plants have been over a much wider distribution, including between Kyalite and Moulamein in the east, west of Lake Victoria in the west and in mallee to the south east of Menindee in the north. Only one plant is known from formal conservation reserves in NSW (Mallee Cliffs NP), though another is known from the Travelling Stock Route within northern Mungo NP and a number are known from various conservation initiatives on leasehold land.
Habitat and ecology
- Usually grows in mallee communities. Generally grows in gravely and sandy loam soils on dunes, in open woodland and tall shrubland. Also recorded in sand in spinifex-shrub steppe.
- NSW populations found in mallee habitats on soft linear dune-crests, with deep and well-drained calcareous earths or red and brown sands, loamy sands or clay-loams. Associated species include Eucalyptus socialis and Pimelea microcephala.
- Associated species include Eucalyptus costata, E. leptophylla, E. dumosa, Callitris verrucosa and Triodia scariosa.
- Flowers from August to January (spring to early summer). Fruits seen mostly during September and October, however fruiting collections have also been made from January to August.
- Santalum species are root-parasitic shrubs or small trees. This species is sometimes found as an isolated tree, but is also regularly found in small to large groups (up to 28 plants) scattered over a relatively small area. Many plants appear to be senescent, though juvenile plants are also present in some populations.
Regional distribution and habitat
Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.
Threats
- Clearing of mallee habitat areas.
- Wildfires may kill individuals, but the species’ response to fire is poorly known.
- Vulnerable to habitat disturbance and fragmentation.
- Erosion (sites subject to wind-sheeting and drift).
- Germination restrictions (as root parasites, the presence of appropriate host species may be a limiting factor) and grazing by goats may also be impacting on regeneration success.
Recovery strategies
A Saving Our Species conservation project is currently being developed for this species and will be available soon. For information on how you can contribute to this species' recovery, see the Activities to assist this species section below.
Activities to assist this species
- Instil appropriate fire regime so as to not burn all habitat within a region at one time, and to promote natural succession.
- No further degradation or loss of potential habitat.
- Protection from factors influencing erosion, such as stock and feral animal activities.
- Minimise degradation, fragmentation and loss of potential habitat.
- Investigations into the factors limiting regeneration.
Information sources
- Briggs, J.D. and Leigh, J.H. (1996) Rare or Threatened Australian Plants. Revised Edition. (CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne)
- Clements, A., Rodd, T., Moore, R.J., Crane, A.G. and Simpson, J. (2000) Surveys of areas having potentially high botanical diversity near Pooncarie, South Far Western Plains. Cunninghamia 6(3): 611-643.
- Cunningham, G.M., Mulham, W.E., Milthorpe, P.L. and Leigh, J.H. (1992) Plants of Western New South Wales. (Inkata Press, Sydney)
- Farr, E.R., Leussink, J.A. and Stafleu, F.A. (eds) (1979) Index Nominum Genericorum 2: 647.
- Gardner, C.A. (1931) Santalum murrayanum (T. Mitchell) C. Gardner. Enumeratio Plantarum Australiae Occidentalis 35.
- George, A.S. (1984) Santalaceae. 9. Santalum. Flora of Australia 22: 61-66, p. 66.
- Jessop, J.P. (1981) Flora of Central Australia. (Australian Systematic Botany Society, Sydney)
- Jessop, J.P. and Toelken, H.R. (eds.) (1986) Flora of South Australia. Part I. (South Australian Government Printing Division, Adelaide)
- Loveys, B.R. and Jusaitis, M. (1994) Stimulation of germination of Quandong (Santalum acuminatum) and other Australian native plant seeds. Australian Journal of Botany 42: 565-574.
- Mueller, F.J.H. von (1855) Descriptions of fifty new Australian plants, chiefly from the colony of Victoria. Transactions and Proceedings of the Victorian Institute (for the Advancement of Science) 1: 28-48
- Porteners, M. and Robertson, G. (2003) Threatened Plants in Western New South Wales: Information Review. (NSW NPWS, Hurstville)
- Porteners, M.F., Ashby, E.M. and Benson, J.S. (1997) The natural vegetation of the Pooncarie 1:250 000 map. Cunninghamia 5(1): 139-231.
- Pressey, R.L., Cohn, J.S. and Porter, J.L. (1990) Vascular plants with restricted distributions in the Western Division of New South Wales. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 112: 213-227
- Sprague, T.A. and Summerhayes, V.S. (1927) Eucarya murrayana T. Mitch. Kew Bulletin 1927: 196.
- Walsh, N.G. and Entwisle, T.J. (1999) Flora of Victoria; Volume 4, Dicotyledons Cornaceae to Asteraceae. (Inkata Press, Melbourne)
- Wiecek, B. (1992) Santalum. In Harden, G.J. (ed.) Flora of New South Wales. Volume 3 (New South Wales University Press: Sydney).
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