Native Cherry (Cherry Ballart)
Exocarpos cupressiformis
Family Santalaceae
Hemiparasitic rainforest-margin tree
About
A hemiparasitic tree that draws some of its water and nutrients from the roots of nearby plants while still photosynthesising through its own drooping, cypress-like green stems. Named among the flora of Barrington Tops National Park. Its edible 'cherry' is not a true fruit but a swollen stalk carrying a single hard nut on the outside.
How to spot it
A pyramidal shrub or small tree 3-8m tall with reduced, scale-like leaves and green, drooping photosynthetic stems that resemble a small conifer. Look for the odd fruit structure: a small nut sitting atop a swollen, berry-like red or yellow stalk.
Found in
- Barrington Tops National Park