It is hard to believe that a plant family from where we get our fragrant sandalwood, is actually a family of parasitic plants, that form haustoria on the host plant's stems and roots to derive their nutrients. The majority of the Santalaceae are root parasites; the others are stem parasites. But in most cases these plants do not cause significant damage to the host plant.
๐ทThe family includes about 44 genera and more than 1,000 species of semi-parasitic shrubs, herbs, and trees, distributed in tropical and temperate regions.
๐ทLeaves of these plants are simple, undivided, usually alternate (sometimes opposite, but rarely whorled. In some genera the leaves are reduced to scale-like structures. The green leaves contain some chlorophyll, which allows the plants to manufacture food, but all Santalaceae members are parasites to a certain extent and form connections (haustoria) to their hosts to obtain water and nutrients.
๐ทMost have small, inconspicuous, bisexual or unisexual flowers, which occur singly, although a few species have groups of flowers in the leaf axils or on short spikes.
๐ทThe one-seeded fruit may be surrounded by a brightly coloured nutlike structure.
๐ทMost members of the family belong to the herbaceous genera Thesium, Phoradendron, Viscum, or Dendrophthora . They are commonly known as mistletoes. The Leafless mistletoe(Viscum articulatum) and the Oval Leaved Mistletoe (Viscum ovalifolium) have been listed to be found in Singapore.
๐ทIn order to differentiate these mistletoes from those of the family Loranthaceae, it is noted that the ovary is inferior in Santalaceae mitletoes, while it is superior in Loranthaceae.
๐ทSantalum (the sandalwood genus) includes about 25 tree species from Indo-Malaysia to the Pacific Islands. The aromatic sandalwood (S. album) is the only economically important member of the family; it was used in making furniture and is still used in perfumery. The wood carving and furniture making from these trees has been reduced due to over-exploitation of the species for its fragrant wood.
๐ทSandalwood oil is proven to create healthier, brighter and younger-looking skin. It is also useful as a relaxation oil. While the oil acts as a relaxant physically, it has the ability to clear the mind, promoting alertness, better memory and focus. It decreases anxiety and promotes quality sleep through inhalation of its fragrance, applying sandalwood paste or using its bath soaps as described in this link
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