Practical
Plants

Exocarpus cupressiformis

Native Cherry

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Exocarpus genus in the family Santalaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

One report says that the foliage might be poisonous[3].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit stalk - sweet and palatable when fully ripe, astringent otherwise[1][3][4]. It is eaten raw or made into preserves[5]. Rather small, it is about 4 - 6mm long[4].

Plant part
Fruit

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Astringent, bitter tonic.

Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Bitter
Product or use
Tonic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The bark contains up to 15% tannin[3]. Wood - hard, tough, close-grained. Used for turnery, furniture etc[6][3].

Product or use
Tannin
Product or use
Wood

Environment

Range
Australia - New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria.
Habitat
Sandy soils on dry hillsides[3]. In eucalyptus forests to the montane zone[2].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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[4].

References

  1. Cribb. A. B. and J. W. Wild Food in Australia. Fontana 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-00-634436-4

    ↩

  2. Lassak. E. V. and McCarthy. T. Australian Medicinal Plants.

    ↩

  3. Ewart. A. J. Flora of Victoria.

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  4. Low. T. Wild Food Plants of Australia. Angus and Robertson. 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-207-14383-8

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

  6. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

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