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Sourberry Tree

Fruit Tree type: Deciduous (Stores water in the thickened base of its stem)

This short fruit tree grows up to 9 feet (2.7 meters) tall and lives for up to 30 years, with the oldest known specimen being around 60 years old. It is very resistant to disease but is susceptible to destructive insect infestation.

It has a wide, straight trunk covered in paper-thin, waxy, copper-coloured bark, and inside, the flexible wood is gray.

The small handful of branches are short stubs and are covered with large amounts of large, circular leaves with smooth edges. The leaves themselves are generally dark brown.

In early spring, it produces many bunches of medium-sized, brown blossoms with sickle shaped petals. They are very delicate and have a strong scent that smells like misty mornings.

In late autumn it produces , stiff, pointed fruit. The fuzzy magenta skin is thin and very sour, and the soft brilliant purple flesh is salty and very dry. The green seeds are small and are bunched at the top of the fruit.

The roots are shallow and grow straight down, and overall the tree is rigid and weak, and breaks apart easily.

Forests of this species feature the trees packed together densely, with clear space between them.

It is suitable for making paper
It has impressive regenerative properties.
It is possible to grow it from cuttings.
It commonly grows in large patches.