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The Santalales are an order of flowering plants, belonging to the dicotyledons. Most are partially parasitic - they can produce food through photosynthesis, but tap the stems of roots of other plants to obtain water. Most have seeds without testa, which is unusual for angiosperms. The following families are typical of newer classification schemes:

• Family Santalaceae ( sandalwood family)
• Family Opiliaceae
• Family Loranthaceae ( mistletoe family)
• Family Misodendraceae
• Family Olacaceae

In the older Cronquist system, some of the Santalaceae are recognized as separate families, called Viscaceae and Eremolepidaceae . Three other families were also included:

• Family Medusandraceae
• Family Dipentodontaceae
• Family Balanophoraceae

These are no longer considered close relatives of the Santalaceae, but at the moment their placement is still uncertain.