Clinging Vinefruit

This small fruit tree grows up to 8 feet (2.4 meters) tall and lives for up to 40 years, with the oldest known specimen being around 62 years old. It is very susceptible to disease and insect infestation.

It has a thick, wonky trunk covered in thin, waxy, brown and grey bark, and inside, the medium-dense wood is burgundy-brown.

The abundance of branches trail down to the ground and are covered with small amounts of large, wide leaves with smooth edges. The leaves themselves are either crimson or violet, with aquamarine edges.

In early spring, it produces hundreds of medium-sized, drab red blossoms with 3 V-shaped shaped petals. They fall easily and have a powerful scent that smells like cigarette smoke.

In mid-autumn it produces small, fan-like fruit. The smooth hazel skin is thin and savoury, and the slightly crunchy brown flesh is spicy and juicy. The green seed is tiny and sits at the top of the fruit.

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

Forests of this species feature well-spaced trees, with patches of undergrowth between them.