Mountain Sandalwood (Santalum paniculatum)

Family: Santalaceae | Edibility: Edible (1/5)

Santalum paniculatum or commonly known as Mountain Sandalwood or ?Iliahi is a small tree or shrub growing about 3-10m in height and can be found in the Pacific. It has greenish blue leaves that are narrowly oval. The flowers are small, located at the ends of branches. The fruit is fleshy, black or purple when ripe, and comprised of a single seed.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Nuts/Seeds

Harvest Seasons: Fall, Late Summer

Flavor & Culinary Uses

Seed - tasty. The scarcity of seeds, and their high value for propagation, makes their use as food somewhat inappropriate. — The scarcity of seeds, and their high value for propagation, makes their use as food somewhat inappropriate.

Habitat & North American Range

Dry forest areas on lava substrates or on cinder cones, up to higher elevations in more humid forest, or in secondary Metrosideros forest; at elevations from about 450 - 2,550 metres. (Zone 10)