Common name: Broom Ballart, Slender Cherry
Exocarpos sparteus R.Br. APNI* 
Description: Shrub or small tree, often multistemmed, 1.5–6 m high, ± glabrous; branches slender, angular-striate, olive or grey-green, pendent or erect.
Leaves linear, 2–10 mm long, triquetrous, recurved at apex.
Flowers in spikes, c. 10 mm long, peduncle 1–2 mm long. Tepals 5, yellow or golden-brown, 0.3–1 mm long. Disc in male flowers broad and lobed. Fruiting pedicel depressed-globose, 2–3 mm long, edible, green becoming pink or red.
Drupe ± ellipsoidal, 3–5 mm long, smooth, usually shining orange to red brown or almost black; tepals persistent.
Flowering: throughout year but mainly spring and autumn.
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in mallee communities on sandy soils; uncommon, in the Euston district.
NSW subdivisions: SFWP
Other Australian states: Qld Vic. W.A. S.A. N.T.
Text by B. Wiecek
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 3 (1992)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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