Purplefruit Tree

This small fruit tree grows up to 8 feet (2.4 meters) tall and lives for up to 30 years, with the oldest known specimen being around 50 years old. It is very resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has a stocky, wonky trunk covered in thin, ridged, pine-coloured bark, and inside, the very dense wood is gray.

The branches trail down across the ground and are covered with small bunches of giant, pleated leaves with irregular edges. The leaves themselves are either grey, or purple with silver splotches.

In early spring, it produces a handful of small, pink blossoms with 4 heart-shaped shaped petals. They fall easily and have the faintest scent that smells like onion.

In late summer it produces small, circular fruit. The rough beige skin is delicate and sweet, and the crunchy purple flesh is bitter and savoury and very dry. The hazel seeds are small and are located in the centre of the fruit.

The roots are shallow and widely spread, and overall the tree is rigid and weak, and breaks apart easily.

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