A Cherry ballart tree,Exocarpus cupressiformis,growing in regenerating dry sclerophyll forest,formerly farmland,at Kangaroo Ground,Victoria Australia. E. cupressiformis is a hemiparasite,gaining part of its nutrients from the roots of neighbouring trees in its native forest habitat. The picture shows a Cherry ballart ( green drooping foliage,two-stemmed,picture centre) growing amongst young eucalyptus trees,its typical hosts. E. cupressiformis is a potentially attractive tree for horticulture; however it is difficult to propagate either by cuttings or from seed,due to its requirements for host species. Propagated small plants rarely survive once they are transplanted into the ground |