Osyris

Osyris
Osiris alba
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Santalales
Family:	Santalaceae
Genus:	Osyris L.
Synonyms [1]
CasiaDuhamel ColpoonP.J.Bergius FusanusL.

Osyris is a genus of plants in the family Santalaceae, one of the many genera known as sandalwoods, but not one of the true sandalwood. The species of this genus are mostly hemiparasitic, meaning although they can survive and grow by themselves, they also opportunistically tap into the root systems of nearby plants and parasitize them. ^[2]

Five species are accepted. ^[1]

• Osyris alba L. – common name osyris
• Osyris daruma Parsa
• Osyris compressa (P.J.Bergius) A.DC. – Cape sumach or pruimbos
• Osyris lanceolata Hochst. & Steud. (synonym Osyris quadripartita Salzm. ex Decne.) – African sandalwood, wild tea plant
• Osyris speciosa (A.W.Hill) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt

References

1. "Osyris L." Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 23 April 2025.
2. O'Neill, A.R.; Rana, S.K. (2019). "An ethnobotanical analysis of parasitic plants (Parijibi) in the Nepal Himalaya". Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 12 (14): 14. doi: 10.1186/s13002-016-0086-y . PMC   4765049 . PMID   26912113.

• "Santalaceae Osyris L." Plant Name Details. IPNI. 2003-07-02. Retrieved 2007-08-06.