Santalales is an order of flowering plants, with a cosmopolitan distribution but heavily concentrated in tropical and subtropical regions.

Most have seeds without a testa, which is unusual for flowering plants. Many of the members of the order are hemi-parasites, able to produce sugars through photosynthesis, but tapping the stems or roots of other plants to obtain water and minerals; some (e.g. Arceuthobium) are full parasites, lacking chlorophyll and relying on their hosts for all sustenance.

The APG II system of 2003 (unchanged from the APG system of 1998) uses the following circumscription:

• order Santalales

• family Loranthaceae

• family Misodendraceae
• family Olacaceae
• family Opiliaceae
• family Santalaceae

The AP-Website indicates that Balanophoraceae should also be included in this order (post APG II). It also indicates that Olacaceae (sensu APG II) is not a good family and should be split. Furthermore, it indicates doubt about Santalaceae.

The Cronquist system (1981) used the following circumscription:

• order Santalales

• family Medusandraceae

• family Dipentodontaceae
• family Olacaceae
• family Opiliaceae
• family Santalaceae
• family Misodendraceae
• family Loranthaceae
• family Viscaceae
• family Eremolepidaceae
• family Balanophoraceae

The families Viscaceae and Eremolepidaceae are included in the family Santalaceae by the APG. The genera Dipentodon (Dipentodontaceae) and Medusandra (family Medusandraceae) are regarded as unplaced by APG II (as is the family Balanophoraceae, now likely to be reincluded; see above).

See also

• Parasitic plant

External links

• Santalales at Parasitic Plants
• NCBI Taxonomy Browser

Santalales

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