Common Name: Leafless Cherry
Botanical Name: Exocarpus aphyllus
Family: SANTALACEAE
Description:
Much-branched, large shrub to small, bushy tree, 2-5 m high, with many stiff leafless branchlets. Mostly leafless. Cylindrical branchlets are yellowish-green, rigid, streaked to ribbed, often with pointed tips. Flowers minute, greenish, in small spikes or clusters to 4 mm long. Mid winter to early summer (July to December). Small, rounded nut, to 5 mm diameter, attached to swollen fruit-like stalk which is succulent, bright red and about twice the size of the actual fruit. Late spring to summer.
Much-branched, large shrub to small, bushy tree, 2-5 m high, with many stiff leafless branchlets. Mostly leafless. Cylindrical branchlets are yellowish-green, rigid, streaked to ribbed, often with pointed tips. Flowers minute, greenish, in small spikes or clusters to 4 mm long. Mid winter to early summer (July to December). Small, rounded nut, to 5 mm diameter, attached to swollen fruit-like stalk which is succulent, bright red and about twice the size of the actual fruit. Late spring to summer.
Natural Distribution:
Scattered throughout northern lower rainfall regions, on sandy well-drained soils, in most agricultural districts of SA (absent from the South-East). Extends into all other States (absent from NT). Common to mallee and northern arid areas.
Scattered throughout northern lower rainfall regions, on sandy well-drained soils, in most agricultural districts of SA (absent from the South-East). Extends into all other States (absent from NT). Common to mallee and northern arid areas.
Notes:
A root parasite that requires a suitable host plant. Birds assist with the dispersal of the fruit (nut) being attracted to the red, succulent, edible fruit stalk.
A root parasite that requires a suitable host plant. Birds assist with the dispersal of the fruit (nut) being attracted to the red, succulent, edible fruit stalk.
