Exocarpos syrticola

Shrub to c. 3.5 m high, much-branched, dark to bronze-green; branchlets erect, terete or slightly angular, rigid, striate, often swollen at tips, pubescent between ridges at first, finally glabrous. Leaves alternate, scale-like, ovate to lanceolate, 1–1.5 mm long, erect or spreading, persistent, usually becoming dark. Inflorescences usually 2–9-flowered short, dense, sessile spikes or clusters 2–5 mm long in upper leaf axils; rachis pubescent. Tepals 5, triangular, c. 0.5 mm long, obtuse, yellow-green, persistent. Fruiting receptacle subglobose, 4–8 mm long, white to pink; drupe ellipsoid, 3–4 mm long, smooth or slightly ribbed, glabrous, purplish when ripe. Flowers mostly Sep.–Dec.