For me, one of the markers of the festive season is the appearance of the fruits* of the Cherry Ballart Exocarpos cupressiformis. This remarkable plant, common in the bush around Newstead, is a hemi-parasite (partially dependent) on the roots of other plants, especially eucalypts. In a ‘good’ season individual plants can be laden with berries at this time of year. Searching yesterday I was lucky to find more than 5 or 6 on each plant. The hard seed is attached on the end of the fruit.
There is a nice article here in the Conversation by Gregg Muller, noting that this plant can be something of a biodiversity hotspot, attracting a variety of different birds, mammals and insects. As I inspected a clump yesterday along Monash Street a Swamp Wallaby joined me briefly under the shade of the canopy before lazily hopping off in search of an alternative resting place.
Cherry Ballart fruit, Monash Street Newstead, 24th December 2019
II
Cherry Ballart ‘colony’
As they ripen the fruits transform from green …
… to orange
… then crimson when fully ripe
The foliage is distinctive and striking
* The fleshy ‘fruit’ is actually a swollen stem.
Natural Newstead 
Beautiful clear photos of this lovely little fruit Geoff, thanks.
I have noticed that the grass is always greener.. Lusher…taller…there! (Where the surrounding bush has no grass)… under the Cheery Ballart trees.
More Nitrogen? More dung?
Many thanks for your beautiful and informative emails. I wish you happiness and plenty of nature in 2020. Cheers, Sara.
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