Sandalwood Tree

Sandalwood (Santalum album) or often called sandalwood fragrance is producing trees sandalwood oil and sandalwood.

In the archipelago, the type is also known by various names, among others: Candana (Minangkabau) Tindana, Sindana (Dayak), Candana (Sunda), Candana, Candani (Java), Candhana, Candhana lakek (Madura), Candana (BeIitung), Ai nitu, Dana (Sumbawa), Wood ata (FIores), Sundana (Sangir), Sondana (North Sulawesi), Ayu luhi (Gorontalo), Candana (Makassar), Ai nituk (Bread), Hau meni, Ai kamelin (East), Kamenir (Wetar) and Maoni (Blend).

Parasite

At the beginning of life, this plant is a parasite. For Cendana pengecambahannya process requires the host tree to support growth.

This is because the root system is not able to support Cendana own life. This makes this type is difficult to be cultivated.

Plants that are usually used as host by sandalwood include Acacia, Albasia, Dalbergia, Inga, Pongamia and Reed.

Spreading Sandalwood Tree

Sandalwood is found growing in Indonesia, especially on the island of Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara. If the terms of the Dutch language (sandelhout) and English (sandalwood), this tree is believed to have descended from the region there.

It can be known from the nickname of Sumba Island, the Sandalwood Island. This nickname was brought hereditary since the Dutch colonial era to the present.

Since the fifteenth century, sandalwood tree is the main attraction for Europeans to get it. Therefore, the type of tree it was assigned as the identity of the flora of East Nusa Tenggara province.

Sandalwood whose quality is considered the most good is derived from Mysoram areas in South India. In Indonesia, sandalwood from Timor also appreciated quite expensive.

But now, sandalwood fragrance is very rare, so the price is more expensive. Instead, use jenggi sandalwood (Santalum spicatum).

Although they contain different concentrations of chemicals and therefore also different levels of fragrance.
The characteristics of Sandalwood Tree

Sandalwood grows well in areas that have obvious differences in climate between the dry and rainy seasons. It can be grown in the plains to a height of 1,500 meters above sea level. Cendana also often found in the area full of rocks or volcanic rocks that continue the flow of water.

Cendana including family Santalaceae of the order Loranthaceae. It can grow to a height of 11-15 meters, with a trunk diameter of 25-30 cm.

Sandalwood has a round rod and colored started grayish brown to red brown. Branch began to grow on the bottom half of the tree.

Primary branches of this type are very irregular, often bent and have many branches. Dahan bottom tend to grow hanging.

The leaves are opposite each elliptical to oblong (oval) with two pointed ends.

There are two type

There are two types of Cendana, the Cendana Red and White Sandalwood.

Red sandalwood grows in areas Funan and India, while the White sandalwood grows in East Nusa Tenggara, among others, on the island of Flores, Alor, Sumba, Solor, Adonara, Lomblen, Pantar, Timor, Rote and Sabu.

In terms of quality, both are the same. Red sandalwood is comparatively less fragrant and the quality is not good, so it was not too sold traded.

utilization Cendana

The sweet smell of sandalwood typical derived from wood. Therefore, the timber often used for spices, ingredients incense, aromatherapy, perfume mixtures, as well as the keris's sheath.

Sandalwood is also widely used as building materials, furniture, craft or crafts, works of art, to the rosary.

Beyond these things, there is still a sandalwood tree benefits, particularly for health. It is useful for therapeutic ingredients of herbal medicine.

The part that is usually used drug is wood, leather and sandalwood oil