Slender Cherry, Broom Ballart, Native cherry
Exocarpos sparteus
Family: Santalaceae
What it is like
An upright shrub. It grows partly attached to or growing on other plants. It grows to 3.5 m high. The stems are ribbed and usually without leaves except on the flowering branches. The flowers are very small and yellow or yellowish-green. Occasionally they are white. The fruit are small and egg-shaped. They are succulent and 2-3 mm across. One bush can have thousands of fruit. The fruit change from orange-red to deep crimson. The seed is external to the fruit. The fruit, and its stalk are edible.
There are about 26 Exocarpus species.
Where it is found
It grows on sandstone areas over limestone. Plants will regenerate after fire. It grows in the Mallee in Australia.
Countries/locations it is found in
Australia (country/location of origin)
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Djuk