Edit Plant: Santalum acuminatum

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'''''Santalum acuminatum''''', the '''desert quandong''', is a hemiparasitic plant in the [[Sandalwood]] family ''[[Santalaceae]]'', widely dispersed throughout the central deserts and southern areas of [[Australia]]. The species, especially its fruit, is also referred to as '''quandong'''. ''Santalum acuminatum'' grows as a tall shrub, or small tree, rarely exceeding 7&nbsp;metres in height. Roots are adapted to a hemi-[[parasitic]] mechanism, utilising a [[haustorium]], on roots able to reach out 10&nbsp;metres to other root systems. The slender to ovate [[leaves]] are pointed at the tip, are pale or yellow-green, and leathery. These are supported on a short leaf stem, 5 – 10&nbsp;mm long, the leaves themselves being 45 – 115&nbsp;mm long. They are tapered in outline, and arranged in opposite pairs on the branchlets.<ref name="Powell">{{Cite book|title=Leaf and Branch|author=Robert Powell|publisher= Department of Conservation and Land Management |year=1990}}</ref> [[Flowers]] can be green or white on the outer parts, reddish or brown on the inner faces, these appear on stems, are just 2 – 3&nbsp;mm across, and are fragrant.<ref name="Flora.Perth">{{cite book | first = Neville | last = Marchant | authorlink = Neville Marchant | coauthors =et al. | year = 1987 |edition =1st| title = Flora of the Perth Region | location = Perth | publisher = [[Western Australian Herbarium]] | pages = 198, 206. }}</ref> [[Fruit]] is produced after four years and is red or sometimes yellow, measuring 20 and 25&nbsp;mm across. A 3&nbsp;mm layer of flesh covers a brain-like nut with a hard shell that encases the seed. This fruit is referred to as a [[drupe]], it ripens from green to a shiny red in late spring or summer, and is globe shaped and 20 – 40&nbsp;mm across.<ref name="FloraBase">{{FloraBase|name=Santalum acuminatum (R.Br.) A.DC. |id= 2356 }}</ref><ref name="Teague">{{Cite web|title = Santalum acuminatum | url=http://www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/interns-2002/santalum-acuminatum.html |author=Justin Teague (Student Intern)|work= Growing Native Plants|publisher=ANBG|year= 2003}}</ref> The skin of the fruit is waxy.<ref name="Erickson 1973">{{cite book | first = Rica | last = Erickson | authorlink = Rica Erickson | coauthors = George, A. S.; [[Neville Marchant|Marchant, N. G.]]; Morcombe, M. K. | year = 1973 |edition =2nd| title = Flowers and plants of Western Australia | location = Sydney | publisher = A.H. & A.W. Reed | pages = 198, 206. }}</ref> ==Cultivation== The plant is hemi-[[parasitic]]; able to [[photosynthesize]], but using the root system of other plants to acquire nutrients other than sugars.<ref name="Teague"/> The ''Santalum'' genus of plants attaches to other species, in a non-destructive way, sustaining itself by their provision of nitrogen, shade, and water.<ref name="Powell"/> The roots of the species have pad-like adaptations, that nearly encircle the host's root, this is typical of this genus of sandalwoods. Hosts can be other trees, or grasses, usually several plants are utilised. The taxa recorded in this relationship are species of genera; ''[[Acacia]]'', ''[[Maireana]]'', and ''[[Atriplex]]'', and many others, including hemiparasites such as ''[[Exocarpos sparteus]]''. This mechanism allows the plant to acquire 70% of its nitrogen, and some of its water, requirements from the roots of other trees and shrubs.<ref name ="Ann.Bot Vol.80">{{cite journal |last=K. U. Tennakoon*, |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= J. S. Pate†‡ and D. Arthur† |year= 1997 |month= |title= Ecophysiological Aspects of the Woody Root Hemiparasite ''Santalum acuminatum'' (R. Br.) A. DC and its Common Hosts in South Western Australia|journal= Annals of Botany|volume=80: |issue= |pages= 245–256|id= |url=http://aob.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/80/3/245 |accessdate=2008-02-02 | quote =* Department of Botany, The UnivŠersity of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri-Lanka and †Department of Botany, The UniŠversity of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6907, Australia. Œ‡ For correspondence|doi= 10.1006/anbo.1997.0432 |first1=K}}</ref> The tree occupies a diverse and widespread range of habitat, including creek beds, granite, gravel plains and sandy dunes. It is tolerant of drought, salt and high temperatures, and need not have a nutrient rich environ. The seedling can become established in the shade of its host, reaching for full sun once developed, so the plant is usually intermingled with host and other species. The environs of the distribution range are subject to frequent [[bushfire]]s, this requires the plant to regenerate from its roots, so the species is rarely found as an advanced tree. Those specimens exposed to bushfire and soil disturbance will occur as sprawling multi-stemmed shrubs. The plant's regrowth from the root system gives this species a lead over shrubs that recur from seed. Trees with a single main stem are in locations remote from these factors. The habit of older trees may overwhelm the adjacent plants; by monopolising the sunlight and parasitising roots of plants beyond its own canopy. The foliage, being much paler than other trees and shrubs, makes the plant conspicuous in bushland and scrub. An occurrence of an unmolested specimen is recorded at [[Woodman Point]] in Western Australia, an area remote from the high intensity fires of altered regimes. Host plants are needed in the establishment of an orchard, the species selected for this purpose impart factors affecting growth, resistance to infestation, and the harvest. The study of ''[[Melia azedarach]]'' (White cedar) as a host to this species revealed that the ''S. acuminatum'' acquired insecticidal compounds that increased its resistance to the Quandong Moth. Researchers then determined that [[neurotoxins]] found in the host plant, and other substances harmful to mammals, can pass into the harvested fruit.<ref>{{cite web|url =http://www.publish.csiro.au/?act=view_file&file_id=EC107p34.pdf|format=PDF|title=Hosting the quandong|author=Steve Davidson|publisher= [[CSIRO]] |quote= citing: Transfer of photosynthate and naturally occurring insecticidal compounds from host plants to the root hemiparasite'' Santalum acuminatum'' (Santalaceae). B. R. Loveys, S. D. Tyerman and B. R. Loveys. ''Australian Journal of Botany'' 49(1) 9 - 16 }}</ref> ===Propagation=== An inadequate knowledge of the plant's ecology led to many early failures in the cultivation of this species. Commercial trials and propagation by enthusiasts have attempted to reproduce the circumstances of its native habitat; well drained soil, germination techniques, and selection of appropriate hosts have been more successful. Germinating the seed has been more successful, up to 35% when it laid aside for 12 – 18&nbsp;months. Growers laying seeds into mulch, obtained from host plants, report a high rate of success.<ref name="ABC">{{cite web | url = http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s2176270.htm | title = Fact Sheet: Quandong Garden | accessdate = | author = Josh Byrne | authorlink = | coauthors = | date = 2008-03-01 | work = Gardening Australia | publisher = [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] | quote = }}</ref> Cultivation of this plant has faced other obstacles, the species is susceptible to a number of pests and fungal diseases.<ref name="DPI"/> ===Pests and diseases=== Soil borne agents of disease, such as ''[[Phytophthora]]'' and ''[[Pythium]]'' fungal species, may be present where the plant's preference for well drained soil is not provided. Nurseries have found the plant to be responsive to the treatments prescribed, if its presence is suspected, such as [[Phosphorous acid#In_agriculture|Phosphorous acid]] soil applications. A climate of high heat and humidity has occasionally induced [[Diplocarpon rosae|black spot]] on the leaves.<ref name="DPI">{{Cite web|title = Quandong Production | url=http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/37865/Quandong_Production.pdf |format=PDF|work= Department of Primary Industries and Resources - fact sheet|publisher=Government of South Australia}}</ref> ==Varieties== A number of [[cultivar]]s have been named in application for [[plant breeders' rights]], two have been accepted and another has been granted. The first named cultivar of the species was named Powell’s # 1<ref name="Powell’s # 1">{{Cite web|title =Powell’s # 1 Quandong |url=http://www.quandongs.com/quandongs/factsheets/red.htm|work = Powell's Fact Sheets|publisher = Quorn Quandongs|date= }}</ref>, but application for legal recognition of this name was withdrawn.<ref>{{Cite web|title =Powell’s # 1 Quandong |url=http://pbr.ipaustralia.plantbreeders.gov.au/plant_detail.cfm?AID=1928909|work = Plant Breeders' Rights|publisher = Commonwealth of Australia|year = 2005}}</ref> The second is known as Powell’s Red Supreme.<ref name="Quorn Red">{{Cite web|title = Powell’s Red Supreme|url=http://www.quandongs.com/quandongs/factsheets/red.htm|work = Powell's Fact Sheets|publisher = Quorn Quandongs|date= }}</ref> Two names are given as accepted applications in the Plant Varieties Journal: ‘Powell’s Red Supreme’ and ‘Saltbush Lane’.<ref name ="PVJ 15:4">{{cite journal |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |year= 2002 |month= |title= Santalum acuminatum, Sweet Quandong|journal= Plant Varieties Journal (Plant Breeder’s Rights Australia)|volume= 15 |issue= 4 |pages= |id= |url=http://www.ipaustralia.gov.au/pdfs/plantbreed/PVJ_Vol_154.pdf |format=PDF|accessdate=2008-02-02 | quote =‘Powell’s Red Supreme’ Application No: 2002/020; ‘Saltbush Lane’ Application No: 2002/021: Accepted: 7 November, 2002; Applicant: Australian Quandongs Pty Ltd, Mylor, SA. }}</ref> One variety of ''Santalum acuminatum'' is named in accordance with the [[International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants]]; following the publication of a description, [[Santalum acuminatum 'Frahn's Paringa Gem'|''Santalum acuminatum'' 'Frahn's Paringa Gem']] (Plant Varieties Journal 17:1) became the first cultivar to be receive legal protection.<ref name ="PVJ 17:1">{{cite journal |last=Scholefield |first= Peter |authorlink= |coauthors= |year= 2004 |month=April |title= Sweet Quandong (Santalum acuminatum). Variety: 'Frahn's Paringa Gem'|journal= Plant Varieties Journal (Plant Breeder’s Rights Australia)|volume= 17 |issue= 1 |pages=163–166 |id= |url=http://www.ipaustralia.gov.au/pdfs/plantbreed/PVJ_Vol_154.pdf |format=PDF|accessdate=2008-02-02 | quote = }}</ref> ==Gallery== <gallery perrow=5> Image:Upload.png| photo 1 Image:Upload.png| photo 2 Image:Upload.png| photo 3 </gallery> ==References== {{reflist}} <!--- xxxxx *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381 --> <!--- xxxxx *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432 --> <!--- xxxxx *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608 --> ==External links== *{{wplink}} {{stub}} __NOTOC__

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