Waterleaf

This average-sized shrub grows up to 2 feet (61.0 cm) tall and lives for decades, with the oldest known specimen being around 167 years old. It is very resistant to disease but is susceptible to destructive insect infestation.

It has numerous slender, straight stems covered in rough, silver bark, and the wood inside is pine-coloured.

The branches are short, rigid and upright with thousands of twigs that and are covered with large amounts of large, asymmetrical, leaves with smooth edges. The leaves themselves are found in indigo and copper varieties, delicate and sticky.

In late summer it produces large amounts of tiny, green blossoms with 4 pointed petals with a tube-like floral cup. They fall easily and have an intense scent that smells like rotten eggs.

In early winter tiny oval fruits ripen. The fuzzy lilac skin is stretchy and edible when boiled; it is bitter, and the soft crimson flesh is spicy and very juicy. The grey seeds are tiny and are scattered throughout the fruit.