About Exocarpos humifusus R.Br.
Exocarpos humifusus is a rigid, woody dwarf shrub with prostrate branches that spread across the ground and over rocks. Its stems are dark yellow-green with a red tinge, and are ribbed with rounded edges. The leaves are triangular, scale-shaped, roughly 0.5 mm (0.020 in) long, and arranged alternately along the stem. Flowers are typically 4-parted, around 2.5 mm (0.098 in) in diameter, and grow in clusters of 2 to 3 on a short stalk at the end of a stem. The fruit is a small greenish-black drupe or nut, 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) long, that develops on top of a fleshy receptacle. When the fruit matures, the receptacle becomes dark red, fleshy, juicy, and edible, which attracts animals that act as seed distributors. This species is endemic to Tasmania. It grows abundantly above 1,000 m (3,300 ft) and on lower elevation mountains in south-west Tasmania, within sub-alpine and alpine areas. It can be found growing across rock surfaces on mountain plateaus and summits throughout the island, and is widespread in alpine heath and fjaeldmark plant communities.
