Sandalwood
Sandalwood is a type of wood that is obtained from trees of the genus Santalum. Sandalwood trees are native to India, Indonesia, and other parts of Asia, and have been used for centuries for their fragrant wood, which is used for incense, perfumes, and other products. Sandalwood oil is also used in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine. The wood is also used for carving and furniture, although it is considered a endangered species and it's commercial use is restricted.
Red Sandalwood
Red Sanders, also known as Red Sandalwood or Saunder, is a species of tree (Pterocarpus santalinus) that is native to the southern parts of India. The tree's heartwood is bright red in colour and has a high demand for its unique colour and fine texture. It is used for making furniture, musical instruments, and carvings, as well as for medicinal purposes. The tree is considered an endangered species due to over-exploitation and illegal logging, and its trade is controlled by the Indian government.
Why Red Sandalwood is Rare
Red Sanders is considered rare because of several reasons:
Limited Distribution: The tree is native to a small area in southern India, and it is not found anywhere else in the world.
Slow growth: Red Sanders trees grow slowly, and it takes many years for the tree to mature and produce the valuable heartwood.
Over-exploitation: The high demand for red sanders wood has led to over-exploitation of the species, which has resulted in a decline of wild populations.
Illegal Logging: Despite being protected by the Indian government, illegal logging of red sanders is still a problem, which further exacerbates the decline of the species.
Climate Change: Changes in the climate, such as drought and forest fires, have also affected the survival of red sander trees.
All these factors contribute to the rarity of red sander and has also led to its classification as an endangered species.
Uses of Red Sandalwood -
Red Sanders wood, also known as red sandalwood, has a variety of uses, both traditional and modern:
Furniture: The wood is highly valued for its unique red color and fine texture, and is used to make furniture such as cabinets, tables, and chairs.
Musical instruments: The wood is used to make a variety of musical instruments such as sitars, tablas, and other percussion instruments.
Carving: The wood is also used for carving and sculptures.
Ayurvedic medicine: The wood is used in Ayurvedic medicine for its medicinal properties, including as a treatment for fever, diarrhoea, and other ailments.
Perfumes and incense: The wood is also used to make perfumes and incense.
Dye: The heartwood of red sander tree is used as a natural dye for textile and paper industries
It's also worth mentioning that due to its high demand, illegal logging and trade of red sanders wood is common and it's exploitation is strictly controlled by the Indian Government.
More Details
Red sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus) is a tree species that is native to the southern Eastern Ghats mountain range in India, specifically in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. It is also known as Red Sanders, Red Sanders wood, Red Sanders wood Logs and Sivappu maram.
Red sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus) thrives in a tropical to subtropical climate with hot summers and mild winters. It prefers well-drained soil with a pH between 6 and 7.5 and is tolerant of poor soils and drought. The tree is highly adaptable to varying climatic conditions and can be grown in an altitude range of 400-1,200 meters. It prefers an annual rainfall of around 600-1200mm and a temperature range of 20-35 degree Celsius. The tree is also tolerant to frost and can survive occasional frost.