There are no authoritative published accounts of its host plants or parasitism, with most sources being anecdotal.

In the early stages of development, like many members of Santalaceae, E. cupressiformis are hemiparasitic on the roots of other trees, particularly eucalypts[1][5][6][7].

Mature plants are less reliant on this parasitism due to the photosynthetic structures in their stems being better established.

[8] The leaves are reduced to small scales, and the green, drooping stems are the site of photosynthesis.

As the fruit develops, the pedicel swells to 5-6mm in diameter and turns yellow or red, forming the edible "cherry".

E. cupressiformis is found in eastern Australia, in sclerophyll forests, especially in shallow soils,[5][6] and on granite outcrops.

[1] The fleshy pedicel, the "cherry", is edible, and was used as food by indigenous Australians and by early European settlers.

The digestive juices of the bird weaken the hard nut, allowing the internal seed to germinate more easily.