Leafless sour-bush
Omphacomeria acerba

Family: Santalaceae

What it is like

A wiry shrub. It grows 0.3-1 m high and spreads 1-3 m wide. It has suckers and forms thickets. The small branches are erect and green. They are rounded and with a groove. There are fine lines along them. The leaves are reduced to very small scales. The male flowers are 0.3 cm across and white. Up to 7 flowers occur in a short spike in the axils of leaves. The female flowers are about 0.2 cm across. They occur singly. The fruit is fleshy and 0.6-0.8 cm long. They are purplish.

There is only one Omphacomeria species.

Where it is found

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

The fruit is eaten. It is sour. It is made into jams and jellies.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

It is a root parasite. It spreads by suckers. Plants are grown by seed. They are hard to grow.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Leptomeria acerba R.Br.;