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Exocarpus cupressiformis

Common name:	Native Cherry	Family:	Santalaceae
Author:	Labill.	Botanical references:	154
Synonyms:
Known Hazards:	One report says that the foliage might be poisonous[154].
Range:	Australia - New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria.
Habitat:	Sandy soils on dry hillsides[154]. In eucalyptus forests to the montane zone[152].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	2	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	1

Other Possible Synonyms:	From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below.
	Exocarpos cupressiformis[G]
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Santalales. Sandalwood family

Physical Characteristics

An evergreen shrub growing to 4m. . It is in leaf all year. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs). We rate it 2/5 for edibility and 1/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires dry or moist soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Woodland, Sunny Edge, Dappled Shade.

Edible Uses

Fruit.

Fruit stalk - sweet and palatable when fully ripe, astringent otherwise[144, 154, 193]. It is eaten raw or made into preserves[2]. Rather small, it is about 4 - 6mm long[193].

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

Astringent; Bitter; Tonic.

Astringent, bitter tonic.

Other Uses

Tannin; Wood.

The bark contains up to 15% tannin[154].
Wood - hard, tough, close-grained. Used for turnery, furniture etc[46, 154].

Cultivation details

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in this country. It is likely to require a light well-drained soil and a sunny sheltered position. It is a root parasite, we do not know which species it parasitizes.
Plants spread by means of underground suckers, often forming clumps of seemingly disparate trees and shrubs[193].

Propagation

Seed - we have no information on this species but would recommend sowing it in spring in a warm greenhouse in a pot that contains a suitable host.

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

References for Exocarpos cupressiformis (a possible synonym).

[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.

References for the family Santalaceae.

[CHINA] Draft Data Very detailed botanical/identification info. from the Flora of China.

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[2] Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.

[46] Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.

[144] Cribb. A. B. and J. W. Wild Food in Australia. Fontana 1976 ISBN 0-00-634436-4
A very good pocket guide.

[152] Lassak. E. V. and McCarthy. T. Australian Medicinal Plants.
A very good and readable guide to the subject.

[154] Ewart. A. J. Flora of Victoria.
A flora of eastern Australia, it is rather short on information that is useful to the plant project.

[193] Low. T. Wild Food Plants of Australia. Angus and Robertson. 1989 ISBN 0-207-14383-8
Well presented, clear information and good photographs. An interesting read for the casual reader as well as the enthusiast

Readers Comments

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Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
Blagdon Cross, Ashwater, Beaworthy, Devon, EX21 5DF, UK.
Website: www.pfaf.org Phone: 0845 458 4719/_44(0) 1208 872963

This page (UK) http://www.comp.leeds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/pfaf/arr_html?Exocarpus+cupressiformis
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We make no claims of magical effects or supernatural powers for any item in this catalog. In spite of legendary attributes or occult and craft tradition, such items are offered as curios only and beliefs concerning their magical effectiveness are related only for historical interest.