Copperfruit Tree

This small fruit tree grows up to 8 feet (2.4 meters) tall and lives for up to 30 years, with the oldest known specimen being around 77 years old. It is very resistant to disease but is susceptible to destructive insect infestation.

It has a narrow, curved trunk covered in smooth, copper-coloured bark, and inside, the very dense wood is copper-coloured.

The branches are short, thin and wispy and are covered with thick bunches of small, 5 pointed leaves with smooth edges. The leaves themselves are slate with pastel blue tips.

In early spring, it produces lots of medium-sized, red blossoms with finger-like petals with a tube-like floral cup. They fall easily and have a fairly strong scent that smells like something putrid.

In early summer it produces small, stiff, pointed fruit. The soft copper skin is thin and inedible, and the slightly crunchy gold flesh is sour and dry. The pale red seed is very large and is in the centre of the fruit.

The roots are thick and spread across the surface, as well as underground, and overall the tree is rigid and weak, and breaks apart easily.

Forests of this species feature trees spaced far apart, with clear space between them.