Clinging Saltberry

This small fruit tree grows up to 7 feet (2.1 meters) tall and lives for up to 15 years, with the oldest known specimen being around 18 years old. It is very resistant to destructive insect infestation but susceptible to disease.

It has a sturdy, curved trunk covered in thick, waxy, gray bark, and inside, the soft wood is black with white speckles.

The small bunches of branches trail down towards the ground and are covered with small amounts of tiny, perforated leaves with jagged edges. The leaves themselves are generally brown.

In early spring, it produces handfuls of tiny, drab red blossoms with many layers of petals. They fall easily and have a strong scent that smells like a newborn baby.

In mid-summer it produces small, circular fruit. The rubbery red skin is thin and extremely salty, and the crunchy brown flesh is sweet and juicy. The beige seed is tiny and sits at the end of the fruit.

The roots are long and grow straight down, and overall the tree is sturdy and difficult to uproot.

Forests of this species feature the trees packed together densely, with grassy ground between them.