Exocarpos humifusus

Exocarpos humifusus, also known as mountain native-cherry, is a small shrub member of the family Santalaceae, all of which are hemiparasites. Exocarpos humifusus is a dwarfish and sprawling shrub with woody stems, and small dry fruits that grow atop a fleshy red stalk, hence the common name of native-cherry.[1]

Exocarpos humifusus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Santalales
Family: Santalaceae
Genus: Exocarpos
Species:
E. humifusus
Binomial name
Exocarpos humifusus
R.Br.
A spatial distribution of recorded individuals of E. humifusus

Description

Exocarpos humifusus is a rigid, woody dwarf shrub with branches prostrate and spreading over the ground and rocks.[2] The stems are dark yellow-green tinged with red, and are ribbed with rounded edges.[2] The leaves are triangular and scale shaped, about 0.5 mm (0.020 in) long, arranged alternately along the stem.[2][3] The flowers are generally 4 parted, approximately 2.5 mm (0.098 in) in diameter and grow in bunches of 2-3 on a short stalk at the end of a stem.[2] The fruit is a small greenish-black drupe or nut 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) in length, that grows atop a fleshy receptacle.[2][4] When mature the receptacle of the fruit is dark red fleshy, juicy and edible, attracting animals as distributors.[4]

Habitat and distribution

Exocarpos humifusus is endemic to Tasmania. It grows abundantly above 1,300 m (4,300 ft), in sub-alpine and alpine areas. It is found growing over the surfaces of rocks on mountain plateaus and summits throughout Tasmania.[1] It is widespread among the plant communities of alpine heath and fjaeldmark.[5]

  • Stems and fruit of E. humifusus
  • Enlarged receptacle with fruit
  • Stems, leaves, and flowers
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References
  1. Tasmania's natural flora. Whiting, Jenny., Tasmania's Natural Flora Editorial Committee. Ulverstone, Tas.: Tasmania's Natural Flora Editorial Committee. 2004. ISBN 0646439162. OCLC 63691373.CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. Curtis, Winifred M. (1967). Student's Flora of Tasmania, Part 3. Hobart: Government Printer.
  3. Jordan, Greg (2017). "Key to Tasmanian Dicots: Exocarpus humifusus". University of Tasmania.
  4. Flowers and plants of Victoria and Tasmania. Cochrane, G. Ross (Gordon Ross), 1932-, Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria. (Rev. ed.). Sydney: Reed. 1980. ISBN 0589502565. OCLC 8157903.CS1 maint: others (link)
  5. Kirkpatrick, James (1997). Alpine Tasmania : an illustrated guide to the flora and vegetation. Dombrovskis, Peter., Davis, Georgina., Eberhard, Jo. Melbourne: Oxford University Press. ISBN 019553753X. OCLC 37215997.
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