SANTALACEAE

n/a

Shrub or small tree to 8 m high, dense yellowish-green or bronzy foliage. Cream, inconspicuous flowers, mainly Oct-May, but can occur year-round.

Occurs in various habitats and soils, including open forest and woodland. Prefers poor shallow soils. Parasitises roots of surrounding plants when young. Prefers 300 – 500 mm rainfall in the Riverina.

Collect early Oct-late Mar, seeds released 3-14 days after maturity. Propagation is difficult, from seed or cuttings. Untreated seed may take 6-18 months to germinate. Germination success seen with bird-ingested seed sown with host plants. Transplant root suckers from damaged roots. Regenerates vigorously from damaged roots.

Useful low-level windbreak cover, plant on leeward side due to brittle nature. Fruit eaten by various native birds, dense foliage provides shelter. Timber good for turning, historically used for tools and gun stocks. First Nations People ate the fruit and used wood for tools. Excellent ornamental due to foliage, can be pruned or coppiced.