Indigo

This massive shrub grows up to 13 feet (4.0 meters) tall and lives for around 23 years. It is very susceptible to disease and insect infestation.

It has several branched, straight stems covered in thick, silky, white with black speckled bark, and the wood inside is mahogany-coloured.

The branches trail down to the ground with dozens of twigs that and are covered with very large amounts of large, oval-shaped, leaves with jagged edges. The leaves themselves are either indigo, or red with azure lines, light and smooth.

In early summer it produces many clusters of small, crimson blossoms with asymmetrical petals. They detach easily and have a scent whose strength depends on external factors, such as soil quality and rain frequency that smells like candle wax.

In mid-autumn wide fruits ripen. The sticky faded purple skin is thick and edible when cooked; it is spicy and sour, and the soft red flesh is sour and savoury and very juicy. The black seed is very large and sits at the end of the fruit.