Exocarpos sparteus

R. Br.

Slender Cherry, Broom Ballart, Native cherry

Santalaceae Edible: Fruit 745 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Exocarpos sparteus is an Australian endemic plant species, commonly known as the broom ballart, slender cherry, or native cherry. The species is found in all states of mainland Australia.

Description

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.

Edible Uses

The small fruit and their stalks are edible.

Distribution

It grows on sandstone areas over limestone. Plants will regenerate after fire. It grows in the Mallee in Australia.

Where It Grows

Australia*,

Notes

There are about 26 Exocarpus species.

Also Known As

Djuk

References (12)

Bindon, P., 1996, Useful Bush Plants. Western Australian Museum. p
Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 466
Cancilla, D., 2018, Ethnobotanical and Ethnozoological Values Desktop Assessment - Eliwana Project. p 12
Dashorst, G.R.M., and Jessop, J.P., 1998, Plants of the Adelaide Plains & Hills. Botanic Gardens of Adelaide and State Herbarium. p 50
Daw, B., Walley, T. & Keighery, G., 2001, Bush Tucker. Plants of the South-West. Department of Conservation and Land Management. Western Australia. p 50

Show all 12 references

Elliot, W.R., & Jones, D.L., 1992, Encyclopedia of Australian Plants suitable for cultivation. Vol 4. Lothian. p 270
Lazarides, M. & Hince, B., 1993, Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia, CSIRO. p 113
Low, T., 1991, Wild Food Plants of Australia. Australian Nature FieldGuide, Angus & Robertson. p 136
Mallee Wildflower Committee, Flowers of the Mallee. p 7
Paczkowska, G . & Chapman, A.R., 2000, The Western Australian Flora. A Descriptive Calatogue. Western Australian Herbarium. p 526
Smith, K & I., 1999, Grow your own bushfoods. New Holland. Australia. p 29
Urban, A., 1990, Wildflowers of Inland Australia. Portside editions. p 30