Family: Santalaceae

Origin, Description & Uses
Santalum album (Indian sandalwood, white sandalwood) is a small to medium-sized evergreen tree native from Java eastward to northern Australia. It is renowned for its highly fragrant heartwood and essential oil, which have been valued for centuries in perfumes, incense, religious ceremonies, traditional medicine, carvings, and fine woodworking. The tree has attractive green foliage, small flowers, and dark purple to black fruits. Due to its economic and cultural importance, Indian sandalwood has been widely cultivated throughout tropical and subtropical regions, including Hawaiʻi.

Risks & Threats
Indian sandalwood is naturalized on Oʻahu and may also be naturalizing on Maui. This species possesses traits that are cause for concern, including the ability to reproduce by seed and establish outside cultivation. As a hemiparasitic tree, it can utilize nearby plants as hosts, allowing it to persist in a range of habitats. Its spread into natural areas could detrimentally impact tropical island ecosystems by competing with native vegetation and altering plant community structure. Because of these risks, Plant Pono recommends choosing a low-risk or native alternative when suitable options are available. Where Indian sandalwood is already established, efforts should focus on managing existing populations and preventing further planting or spread into areas where it is not yet widespread in order to minimize additional environmental impacts.

High Risk Traits:

• Elevation range exceeds 1000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
  
• Thrives in tropical climates
  
• Naturalized on Oahu, Hawaiian Islands, and naturalizing in Florida, and Viti Levu, Fiji
  
• Hemi-parasite
  
• Could act as a host of pests or pathogens that might affect native Santalum species
  
• Shade-tolerant
  
• Tolerates many soil types
  
• Produces viable seeds
  
• Hybridizes with Santalum ellipticum in the Hawaiian Islands and S. yasi in Fiji. Could potentially hybridize and threaten the genetic integrity of other Santalum species
  
• Unspecialized pollinator requirements
  
• Able to reach maturity in 2+ years
  
• Spreads vegetatively through root-suckers
  
• Seeds dispersed by birds and intentionally by people
  
• Orthodox seeds able to be stored for extended periods; May form a persistent seed bank
  
• Younger trees able to coppice and resprout after cutting

Low Risk Traits:

• Unarmed (no spines, thorns or burrs)
  
• Provides fodder for livestock (palatable to a variety of animals)
  
• Ornamental, medicinal, and cultural uses
  
• Predominantly outbreeding and largely self-incompatible