Sandalwood
Topic: Natural Vegetation and Forests of India · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 5 "Natural Vegetation"
Meaning
Sandalwood is a fragrant tree that grows mainly in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. People value it for its sweet-smelling oil and for its wood, which is used for carving. NCERT lists it among the species of the moist deciduous forest, where trees drop their leaves in the dry season. That makes it a deciduous species, which is the answer to the Class 11 exercise question on it.
Example
Karnataka is famous for sandalwood. Its oil goes into perfumes and soaps, and its wood is carved into small boxes and figures.
Don't confuse with
- Evergreen species (rosewood, mahogany, ebony): these are valuable hardwoods too, but they grow in evergreen forest with over 200 cm of rain. Sandalwood is a deciduous species.