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Useful Temperate Plants

Exocarpos humifusus

R.Br.

Santalaceae


The generic name Exocarpos was more commonly spelled Exocarpus in the past.
Exocarpos strictus, Exocarpos humifusus and Exocarpus syrticola are all closely related, and further research, both in Tasmania and elsewhere in southern Australia, is needed to determine whether these taxa should be maintained at specific rank[
1461
Title
Flora of Tasmania Online
Publication
 
Author
Duretto MF (Ed.)
Website
http://www.tmag.tas.gov.au/floratasmania
Publisher
Tasmanian Herbarium, Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery: Hobart
Year
2009
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent flora, in the process of being published (58 family treatments as of 2017). It can be accesed online and can also be downloaded as PDFs.
].

+ Synonyms

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Exocarpos humifusus is a low-growing, prostrate, more or less evergreen shrub, becoming ascending when growing in sheltered places; it generally forms a clump of growth around 100cm wide[
286
Title
Flora of Australia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.anbg.gov.au/abrs/abif/flora/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
The full information from the Flora of Australia - on-line. An excellent resource.
,
1461
Title
Flora of Tasmania Online
Publication
 
Author
Duretto MF (Ed.)
Website
http://www.tmag.tas.gov.au/floratasmania
Publisher
Tasmanian Herbarium, Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery: Hobart
Year
2009
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent flora, in the process of being published (58 family treatments as of 2017). It can be accesed online and can also be downloaded as PDFs.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

286
Title
Flora of Australia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.anbg.gov.au/abrs/abif/flora/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
The full information from the Flora of Australia - on-line. An excellent resource.
,
1461
Title
Flora of Tasmania Online
Publication
 
Author
Duretto MF (Ed.)
Website
http://www.tmag.tas.gov.au/floratasmania
Publisher
Tasmanian Herbarium, Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery: Hobart
Year
2009
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent flora, in the process of being published (58 family treatments as of 2017). It can be accesed online and can also be downloaded as PDFs.

Range

Australia - Tasmania

Habitat

Open eucalypt woodland or forest and shrubland or heath communities, frequently in rocky sites; usually at elevations above 800 metres, though occasionally descending to near sea level[
1461
Title
Flora of Tasmania Online
Publication
 
Author
Duretto MF (Ed.)
Website
http://www.tmag.tas.gov.au/floratasmania
Publisher
Tasmanian Herbarium, Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery: Hobart
Year
2009
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent flora, in the process of being published (58 family treatments as of 2017). It can be accesed online and can also be downloaded as PDFs.
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Shrub
Height0.25 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Exocarpos humifusus is native to the temperate zone of Tasmania, where it can experience frosts and snow.

A major difficulty if trying to cultivate this species is that, although it photosynthesizes much of its own nutrients, it is also semi-parasitic on the roots of other plants, notably Eucalyptus species. Seeds germinate fairly easily, and cuttings will usually root successfully, but the seedlings and cuttings usually die unless they have root access to a host plant. Exocarpos species generally cause very little harm to the host plant.

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[
1461
Title
Flora of Tasmania Online
Publication
 
Author
Duretto MF (Ed.)
Website
http://www.tmag.tas.gov.au/floratasmania
Publisher
Tasmanian Herbarium, Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery: Hobart
Year
2009
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent flora, in the process of being published (58 family treatments as of 2017). It can be accesed online and can also be downloaded as PDFs.
]. The red, obovoid or cylindrical fruiting receptacle is 3 - 5mm long[
286
Title
Flora of Australia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.anbg.gov.au/abrs/abif/flora/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
The full information from the Flora of Australia - on-line. An excellent resource.
].
The edible, fleshy, fruit-like structure is actually an enlarged, succulent section of the flower stalk (receptacle), beyond which the seed and true fruit protrude[
397
Title
Australian Native Plants Society
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://anpsa.org.au/index.html
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A series of fact sheets on Australian plants. Good photographs, brief description and information on uses, habitat, range, cultivation etc.
,
1461
Title
Flora of Tasmania Online
Publication
 
Author
Duretto MF (Ed.)
Website
http://www.tmag.tas.gov.au/floratasmania
Publisher
Tasmanian Herbarium, Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery: Hobart
Year
2009
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent flora, in the process of being published (58 family treatments as of 2017). It can be accesed online and can also be downloaded as PDFs.
].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Propagation and establishment of species in this genus is difficult due to the semi-parasitic nature of the plant. Some success has being achieved in propagation from both seed and cuttings, but the plants generally do not survive once planted out[
397
Title
Australian Native Plants Society
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://anpsa.org.au/index.html
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A series of fact sheets on Australian plants. Good photographs, brief description and information on uses, habitat, range, cultivation etc.
].
Sowing the seed in situ near where potential host plants are growing, and protecting the seed with an upturned glass or plastic container would be worth a try. Alternatively, try sowing the seed in a pot where a small potential host is growing - the main disadvantage to this is that the two plants will be in very close proximity and the Exocarpos could be outcompeted.
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-03-28. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Exocarpos+humifusus>

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