Exocarpos luteolus is a rare species of flowering plant in the sandalwood family known by the common names leafy ballart or heau.

[1][3] This rare plant grows in several types of habitat, including bogs, open ridges, and closed wet forests.

Plants in its bog habitat may include pa iniu (Astelia waialealae), and kanawao (Broussaisia arguta).

[2] This plant is nearing extinction because of a number of threats, mainly habitat destruction and degradation from feral goats and pigs.

Many invasive plant species are present in the habitat, including prickly blackberry (Rubus argutus), banana poka (Passiflora tarminiana), Santa Barbara daisy (Erigeron karvinskianus) paii iha (Christella dentata), lantana (Lantana camara), and molasses grass (Melinis minutiflora).