# African Sandalwood (*Osyris lanceolata*)

African Sandalwood is a special plant known for its sweet-smelling wood. It grows in warm places and is loved for its beautiful green leaves and fragrant scent.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Savannas

![African Sandalwood](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Osyris_lanceolata.JPG&width=800)

Photo: Xemenendura, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Osyris_lanceolata.JPG)

## Appearance

The African Sandalwood is an evergreen shrub or small tree with many slender, often drooping branches. It has small, narrow, lance-shaped leaves that are bright green and sometimes slightly waxy. Its tiny, pale yellow-green flowers are inconspicuous, followed by small, round, red or orange berries.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Santalales
- **Family:** Santalaceae
- **Genus:** Osyris

## Interesting facts

- Despite its name, it's not a 'true' sandalwood but smells just as amazing!
- Its roots are like secret spies, tapping into other plants for a drink!
- People traditionally use its fragrant wood to make beautiful perfumes and incense.
- The little berries of this plant change from green to bright red or orange when ripe!

## Special abilities

- **Root Wrestler:** African Sandalwood can connect its roots to other plants to secretly 'borrow' water and nutrients, helping it thrive in dry places.
- **Desert Survivor:** This plant has tough, leathery leaves that help it lose less water, allowing it to survive long periods without rain.
- **Fragrant Shield:** Its wood contains special oils that give off a pleasant scent, which might help protect it from some plant-eating insects.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 100-500 cm
- **Spread:** 100-300 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Spring to Summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Wind

## Ecological connections

- **Eats:** Olive Thrush (*Turdus olivaceus*) — eats its small, ripe berries
- **Eaten by:** [Bushbuck](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bushbuck) (*Tragelaphus scriptus*) — browses its leaves and shoots
- **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — visits its inconspicuous flowers

## Traits

- [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators.
- [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates.
- [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
- [Timber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/timber): Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry.
- [Savanna](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/savanna): This habitat trait denotes species native to savannas, which are grasslands with scattered trees, typically found in tropical or subtropical regions with distinct wet and dry seasons.
- [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they are safe.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify African Sandalwood?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is African Sandalwood?

100-500 cm

### How wide does African Sandalwood spread?

100-300 cm

### How big are the flowers on African Sandalwood?

0.2-0.5 cm

### When does African Sandalwood bloom?

Spring to Summer

### Is African Sandalwood edible?

Yes

### Is African Sandalwood toxic?

None

### What is African Sandalwood's lifecycle?

Perennial

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [African Sandalwood: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/african-sandalwood)