Sandalwood (Santalum album):
In the 18th and 19th centuries, the tree was confined largely to the forests of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, with the state strictly controlling its harvest, transport and sale.
Sandalwood is a hemi-root parasitic plant, which means that it depends on other host plants for nutrients and water throughout its life cycle. Poor host selection can result in stunted growth, chlorosis or even mortality. For example, Malabar neem (Melia dubia), widely promoted in high-density systems, creates a heavy shade within two years of growth, suppressing sandalwood. Melia trees are often harvested for plywood, which further reduces the sandalwood’s vigour.
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