Santalum ellipticum is a sprawling shrub to small tree, growing to heights of 1–5 meters, and exhibits hemiparasitic behavior on the roots of other plants. The leaves are simple, primarily opposite, but occasionally alternate, with elliptic to orbicular, ovate, or obovate blades measuring 2.5–6.1 cm in length and 1.7–4 cm in width. These leaves have a distinctive dull grayish-green appearance, are leathery to succulent, often glaucous, and feature entire margins. Petioles can extend up to 15 mm, and it does not have stipules. The flowers, known for their sweet fragrance, are greenish in bud and form in terminal and ± axillary compound cymes. They are bisexual (perfect) and morph into greenish colors tinged with brown, orange, or salmon after opening, measuring 4–7 mm long with a campanulate to conical floral tube. It has four (sometimes five) stamens and an inferior ovary with a 2–4-lobed stigma. The fruits are purple to black drupes at maturity, often glaucous, measuring 9–12 mm long and featuring an apical receptacular ring, each containing one seed. It thrives in various environments, including ridges, slopes, and gulches, particularly on ‘a’a lava or rocky sites within dry shrubland and forest areas between 0-560(950) meters.
Bean-shaped (Reniform): Resembling the shape of a kidney or bean.
Square or Oblong: Angular shape with all sides more or less equal or longer than wide.
Triangular: Three-sided shape, broadest below the middle.
Elliptic: Rounded at both ends. shaped like an ellipse or oval.
Ovate or Obovate: egg-shaped, broader at one end.
Linear: Extremely long and narrow, with sides usually parallel.
Round: Appears circular, with length and width roughly the same.
Cardioid (Heart-Shaped): One edge has a prominent double curve into two lobes.
Cylindrical: A cylinder with parallel sides and a circular cross-section.
Discoid: Resembling a disc or plate with two relatively flat surfaces.
Fusiform: Spindle-shaped, tapering at both ends.
Globose: Spherical.
Lenticular: Resembling a lens with two convex surfaces.
Ovoid: Egg-shaped.
Plano-convex: Having a flat ventral (planar) surface and a curved dorsal (convex) surface.
Polygonal: Having more than three flat faces meeting at angles.
Sectoroid: Resembling a segment of an orange with two relatively flat faces and one curved face.
Subglobose/ellipsoid: Inflated shape but less than spherical.
Trigonous: Having three faces that meet at a distinct angle; triangular in cross-section.
Endangered species (E) are species that are so rare they’re in danger of becoming extinct.
Threatened species (T) are species that are likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of their range.
Species of Concern (SOC) are species about which there are some concerns regarding status and threats, but insufficient information is available to list the species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Plant Extinction Prevention (PEP) is a state status for rare plants that focuses its efforts on species that have fewer than 50 remaining wild individuals.
Orthodox seeds (desiccation-tolerant): can be dried to an internal seed moisture of less than 12% water and stored at freezing temperatures.
Intermediate seeds (temperature-sensitive) tend to age faster than orthodox seeds and may have only a 5-year lifespan when stored at -20°C. They are recommended for storage at 5°C.
Recalcitrant seeds (desiccation-sensitive): cannot be stored in a conventional freezer as they cannot survive after drying and/or freezing at -20°C. They are recommended for cryopreservation storage.