Waterstem Bush

This massive shrub grows up to 10 feet (3.0 meters) tall and lives for around 33 years. It is susceptible to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has many long and flexible, curved stems covered in fine, silky, black with white speckled bark, and the wood inside is gray.

The branches are short, rigid and upright with hundreds of twigs that and are covered with small bunches of tiny, stiff, pointed, leaves with tattered edges. The leaves themselves are found in orange and turquoise varieties, robust and fuzzy.

In late spring it produces handfuls of small, hazel blossoms with spiral shaped petals. They detach easily and have a faint scent that smells like rotten meat.

In late winter small slender, 6 pointed fruits ripen. The rough cyan skin is thin and edible when boiled; it is sweet and spicy, and the soft sky blue flesh is bitter and very dry. The blood red seeds are large and are scattered throughout the fruit.