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.

Description

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

Habitat and distribution

''Exocarpos humifusus'' is endemic to Tasmania. It grows abundantly above and on lower elevation mountains in the south-west, in sub-alpine and alpine areas. It is found growing over the surfaces of rocks on mountain plateaus and summits throughout Tasmania. It is widespread among the plant communities of alpine heath and fjaeldmark.

Gallery

File:Stems and Fruit of Exocarpos Hemifusa.jpg, Stems and fruit of ''E. humifusus''
File:Enlarged Receptacle.jpg, Enlarged receptacle with fruit
File:Stems and Flowers of E. hemifusa.jpg, Stems, leaves, and flowers

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q15382012

humifusus
Endemic flora of Tasmania