Exocarpos (from Ancient Greek (), meaning "outside", and (), meaning "fruit", and thus, "outside fruit"), also known as ballart, is a genus of flowering shrubs and small trees in the sandalwood family, Santalaceae. They range from Vietnam through Malesia, New Guinea, and Australia to New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.
They are semi-parasitic, requiring the roots of a host tree, a trait they share with many other members of the Santalaceae.
In Australia, some species are also known as ballarts or cherries.
The genus Exocarpos was first described by Jacques Labillardière on 7 May 1792:I discovered an evergreen tree, which has its nut situated, like that of the acajou, upon a fleshy receptacle much larger than itself. I therefore named this new genus exocarpos. ... The principal characters of this plant have led me to rank it among the terebinthinaceous tribe, next to the anacardium. I have given it the name of exocarpos cupressiformis.Convention dictates that the taxon is often expressed as Exocarpos Labill. 1798.
Within Australia, an identification key is available for New South Wales species, and for Victorian species.
Species 29 species are accepted. Exocarpos acerbus Exocarpos aphyllus – Leafless ballart, jointed cherry Exocarpos baumannii Exocarpos bidwillii – New Zealand Exocarpos capnodioides Exocarpos clavatus Exocarpos cupressiformis – Cherry ballart, cypress cherry Exocarpos gaudichaudii – Hulumoa (HawaiI) Exocarpos homalocladus – Grass tree Exocarpos humifusus Exocarpos latifolius – Broad-leaved cherry Exocarpos lauterbachianus Exocarpos longifolius Exocarpos luteolus – Heau (Island of Kauai in Hawaii) Exocarpos menziesii – Heau (Hawaii) Exocarpos micranthus Exocarpos montanus Exocarpos nanus – Alpine ballart Exocarpos neocaledonicus Exocarpos odoratus – Scented ballart Exocarpos phyllanthoides Exocarpos pseudocasuarina Exocarpos psilotiformis Exocarpos pullei Exocarpos sparteus – Broom ballart, slender cherry Exocarpos spathulatus Exocarpos strictus – Pale-fruit ballart, dwarf cherry Exocarpos syrticola – Coast ballart Exocarpos vitiensis
References
External links What's Its Name? FloraBase - The West Australian Flora: Exocarpos PlantNet - New South Wales Flora Online: Exocarpos