Exocarpos latifolius

R. Br.

Broad-leaved native cherry, Misletoe tree, Broad-leaved Ballart

Santalaceae Edible: Fruit, Stalk Potential hazards — see below 1,344 iNaturalist observations

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iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

Summary

Exocarpos latifolius is a species of parasitic tree, in the plant family Santalaceae. They have the common names broad leaved ballart, scrub sandal-wood, scrub cherry, oringorin, broad leaved cherry or native cherry. The species is found in monsoon forest, littoral rainforest and occasionally in more open forest types in Malesia and across Northern Australia. It is a small tree (or large shrub) growing to 10 metres tall, hemiparasitic on the roots of other trees. The leaves are approximately as broad as long, around 4 cm long. Flowers are produced in slender spikes mostly approximately 1 cm long. The fruit is a globular nut on a short stalk. As it ripens the stalk swells and turns red, like an inside out cherry. The fruit is 4–6 mm long and is inedible, though the stalk is, and was used as a traditional food source by Aboriginal Australians. The seed is found on the outside of the fruit, hence the name exocarpus, from the Latin meaning outer. The wood is very fine-grained with little figure but often striking colour variation and was historically used for cabinet work. The tree was used for many purposes by Aboriginal Australians.The bark was used as a contraceptive. The leaves were burned to repel insects and leaves used in a solution to treat sores. The 1889 book 'The Useful Native Plants of Australia’ records that Indigenous Australians of Queensland referred to this tree as "Oringorin". Common names included Broad-leaved "Native Cherry" and "Scrub Sandalwood". It also states that "The fruit is edible."

Description

A small tree. It grows 4-8 m high. It spreads 3-6 m across. It has very dark green shiny leaves. The leaves are egg shaped. They are 1.5-7 cm long by 1.5-7 cm wide. They are leathery and have veins along them. The flowers a very small and cream. They are arranged in spikes. These can be 1.2 cm long. The fruit are 8 mm long and red. The fruit have a base or stalk which swells and turns bright red when ripe. This plant grows as a parasite on the roots of other plants.

Edible Uses

The ripe fruit stalk is eaten raw and is juicy and sweet. The fruit and seed are sometimes chewed with betel leaf.

Traditional Uses

The fruit and seed are sometimes chewed with betel leaf. The ripe fruit stalk is eaten. It is juicy and sweet.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

An infusion of the bark and the seeds is used as a contraceptive. The seeds, leaves, bark and wood have all been used medicinally by the Australian Aborigines.

Known Hazards

The plant is considered to be poisonous by some native peoples.

Distribution

A tropical and subtropical plant. It can grow in coastal sand dunes and in mountains near the coast. In tropical Queensland it grows from sea level to 900 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 9-11.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia*, East Timor, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia, Timor-Leste, Torres Strait,

Cultivation

A plant of tropical and subtropical climates. A very variable plant, occurring in a range of habitats.

Propagation

Seed - when sown fresh in the nursery, it usually germinates within a few months, but it is extremely difficult to get the seedlings to survive very long, even when they are potted with potential hosts.

Other Uses

The dark-coloured, fragrant wood is very hard and coarse-grained. The wood is whitish to pale reddish-brown, heavy, hard, strong and durable. It takes an excellent polish and is used for cabinet work when of sufficient dimensions. It is considered to be an inferior substitute for sandalwood, losing its fragrance rapidly. It is not suited for timber because it is usually only available in small crooked dimensions, but it is used to make small utensils and handles.

Notes

There are about 26 Exocarpus species.

Nutrition

Part	Moisture	kJ	kcal	Protein	Vit A	Vit C	Iron	Zinc
Fruit	71.1	286	68	2.4	—	—	1.4	0.6

Synonyms

Exocarpus luzonensis (Presl.) A. DC.Exocarpus ovatus BlumeXylophyllos latifolius (R. Brown) O. Kuntze

Also Known As

Agsum, Ballat, Blaping, Cedana semut, Kamiing, Kamoneng alas, Murinyini, Nulkngawakbunbun, Oringorin, Thidirr, Uksur

References (36)

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Cowie, I, 2006, A Survey of Flora and vegetation of the proposed Jaco-Tutuala-Lore National Park. Timor-Lests (East Timor) www.territorystories.nt/gov.au p 52

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