About Santalum murrayanum (T.L.Mitch.) C.A.Gardner
Santalum murrayanum, commonly called bitter quandong, is an Australian plant in the sandalwood family Santalaceae. Its Noongar name is coolyar, and it is also known by the common name Ming. Like all species in the Santalum genus, it forms a non-destructive hemi-parasitic relationship with the roots of several other plant species. This species is a shrub or small tree that usually grows between 1 and 5 metres (3 to 16 ft) tall. It flowers from October through January, producing blooms that range in color from white to yellow-green. Santalum murrayanum grows in sandy or gravelly lateritic soils on sandplains and dunes. It has a scattered distribution across the Wheatbelt, Great Southern, and Goldfields-Esperance regions of Western Australia. It gets its common name bitter quandong from its bitter-tasting fruit, which contrasts it with the related sweet quandong, Santalum acuminatum.
