About Exocarpos bidwillii Hook.fil.
Exocarpos bidwillii, with the scientific name Exocarpos bidwillii Hook.fil., is a small, sprawling, leafless shrub that is endemic to New Zealand. It belongs to the Santalaceae family, most members of which are classified as root hemiparasites; however, some experts hold the opinion that Exocarpos bidwillii may not be parasitic. This species occurs primarily in montane to subalpine open areas, most often in rocky sites in New Zealand's South Island, between latitudes 41° and 45° 30' — this latitude range is a correction of H.H. Allan's previously published incorrect mid-ocean figure of 48° 30'. Its known host plants are snow tōtara, tāwhai rauriki, and mānuka. According to Allan's 1961 record, Exocarpos bidwillii flowers from January to February and produces fruit from January to April. Observations from iNaturalist show that the peak flowering month is September, and peak fruiting occurs in December and January. Recent extensive field work conducted at three sites in the Nelson Mineral Belt, paired with macro photography, has yielded clear identifications of the species' reproductive anatomy at every phenological stage.
