Sivappu sandanam (Pterocarpus santalinus)

Sivappu sandanam, rakta chandan in Hindi, is red sanders, a small tree found wild only in the southern Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh, around the Seshachalam hills. Its dense, deep red heartwood is not fragrant like sandalwood but is prized in China and Japan for furniture and instruments. Demand has driven large-scale smuggling. Red sanders is protected in India, and its trade is controlled under CITES.

Botanical name: Pterocarpus santalinus L.f.
Family: Fabaceae
Tamil: Sivappu sandanam
Hindi: Rakta chandan
Sanskrit: Raktacandana
Parts used: Heartwood in lists
Habit: Red sanders tree of the Eastern Ghats; over-cut and protected
Last updated: 2026-10-27

How to recognise Sivappu sandanam

It is a small to medium deciduous tree, usually eight to twelve metres tall, with dark, deeply cracked bark.

The leaves usually have three broad, rounded leaflets.

Small yellow pea-flowers grow in short clusters.

The pod is round and flat, surrounded by a wide, papery wing.

The heartwood is dense, heavy and blood-red, and sinks in water.

Traditional use of Sivappu sandanam

Ayurveda

Raktachandana paste is applied to the skin for inflammation and used in face packs.

Ayurvedic practice

Craft

In Japan the wood was used for the necks of the shamisen, a stringed instrument.

Japanese craft history

Dyeing

The wood’s red pigment, santalin, colours cloth, foods and medicines.

Indian craft practice

Modern notes on Sivappu sandanam

Andhra Pradesh forest police seize large amounts of smuggled red sanders logs every year.

The species is listed as threatened, and international trade needs CITES permits.

Farm-grown trees are being promoted to reduce pressure on wild stands.

Sivappu sandanam safety

Red sanders powder on skin is a traditional use; test a small patch first. Buy only legally sourced wood, since trade in wild-harvested timber is illegal.

Ecology and sourcing

It grows on dry, rocky hills of the Eastern Ghats in Andhra Pradesh and nearby Tamil Nadu.

It survives fire and drought.

Bees visit its yellow flowers.

Related plants

Also in Fabaceae

Questions about Sivappu sandanam

Is red sanders a sandalwood?

No. It is a legume tree with non-fragrant red wood.

Where does Sivappu sandanam grow?

Only in the southern Eastern Ghats.

Why is Sivappu sandanam smuggled?

Its wood fetches high prices abroad.

Is Sivappu sandanam protected?

Yes. Its trade is tightly controlled.

What is santalin?

The red pigment in its wood.

Sources

Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.