Red Sandalwood Plant – Lal Chandan, Rakt Chandan

Description

Species: Pterocarpus Santalinus
Other Names: Red Sanders, Red Sandalwood, Ruby Wood,
Hindi Names: Lal Chandan, Rakta Chandan

Red Sanders (Hindi name – Lal Chandan or Raktachandan) is a light-demanding moderate sized tree growing up to 8 m tall with a trunk 50–150 cm diameter. It is fast-growing when young, reaching 5 m tall in three years even on degraded soils. It is not frosted tolerant, being killed by temperatures of -1 °C but stays well at semi-arid climatic conditions. The leaves are alternate, 3–9 cm long, trifoliate with three leaflets. The flowers are produced in short racemes. In Hinduism, this wood has been traditionally used as a sacred wood. The priests and higher class casts such as brahmin extensively use this wood on many of their rituals. It is found mainly in South India, Sri Lanka, and some parts of Nepal and Pakistan.

It is observed that the red sanders grew on the shale type of subsoil, at an altitude of 750 meters above sea level. Red sanders with a wavy grain margin fetch a higher price than non-wavy wood. It is used in diseases like cough, vomiting, fever, hyperdipsia, helminthiasis, diseases of the blood and eye, wounds, etc. The heartwood and fruits of Rakta Chandana have great medicinal value. It reduces the burning sensation, arrests bleeding, alleviates oedema and ameliorates various skin disorders, hence, is an effective external application as a paste, in burning sensation, headache, dermatoses, and ophthalcopathies. This species is listed as Endangered by the IUCN, because of overexploitation for its timber.

Red sandal is one of the finest perfumery materials in ages. The demand for the natural red sandal is increasing faster than supply. Because of scarcity and supply industries are constrained to use alternates similar to Indian sandalwood, imported from different countries. And its products find use from cradle to cremation in human life. Even Red Sandalwood OIL, because of its unique chemical and physical properties has acquired a special place in aromatherapy medicine, perfumery, agarbathi, Soaps and Detergents, Pharmaceutical, Cosmetic and allied industries.

Naturally grown sandal wood can find in Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Andhra, Kerala, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and U.P. Manipur and in some other states. Red sandal is known all over the world as East Indian Red sandalwood and is prized for its quality of oil and heartwood. Red sandal is also considered a medicinal plant and is used on large scale in the manufacture of Ayurveda Medicines. National Medicinal Plant Board, govt. of India had been recognized as a Medicinal and Aromatic Plant. This is endangered species too.