Red sandalwood, Red sanders
Pterocarpus santalinus
Family: Fabaceae
What it is like
A tree. It grows 8 m tall. The trunk is 50-150 cm across. The leaves are alternate and 3-9 cm long. They have 3 leaflets. The flowers are in long groups. The fruit is a pod 6-9 cm long with one or two seeds.
Check Bhutan reference.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It is killed by frost.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Laos, Myanmar, SE Asia, Sri Lanka
How it is used for food
The wood is ground to a powder and used as a red food colouring. It is used in spices, sauces, jellies and other foods.
Edible parts
Wood - dye, fruit
How it is grown
It is fast growing.
Its other names
Local names
Natha-ni, Tsan-dan-d,kar-po