Pterocarpus santalinus 

Pterocarpus santalinus L. f.

Family     : Papilionaceae

Common Name: രക്തചന്ദനം (Mal)

 लाल्चन्दन (Hin)

 Red sandalwood(Eng)

IUCN Status       : Endangered (EN) ↓

Deciduous tree up to 15 m tall with a dense, rounded crown; bark blackish-brown, rough; exudation deep red. Leaves alternate, imparipinnate, 10-18 cm long; leaflets 3, rarely 4-5, 3.8-7.6 cm long, broadly ovate or orbicular, coriaceous, apex obtuse, slightly emarginate, undersurface pale and clothed with fine grey hairs. Flowers yellow, a few together in simple or sparingly branched racemes; pedicels c. 5 mm long. Calyx 5-6 mm long, teeth minute, deltoid. Pod obliquely orbicular, 3.8-5 cm in diam. including the wing, base narrowed into a short, concavely curved stipe c. 8 mm long, woolly; seeds 1 or 2, reddish-brown, smooth, 1-1.5 cm long.

Use: Red sandalwood is used for treating digestive tract problems, fluid retention, and coughs; and for “blood purification.” In manufacturing, red sandalwood is used as a flavoring in alcoholic beverages. 

Distribution : Peninsular India

Flowering & Fruiting : September-January