Copperberry

This small fruit tree grows up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall and lives for up to 20 years, with the oldest known specimen being around 26 years old. It is very susceptible to disease and insect infestation.

It has a flexible, straight trunk covered in delicate, knobbly, copper-coloured bark, and inside, the medium-dense wood is pale brown-grey.

The tangled mess of branches are tall, rigid and upright and are covered with handfuls of miniature, sickle shaped leaves with tattered edges. The leaves themselves are peach at the bottom and vivid red with light grey lines at the top.

In early spring, it produces hundreds of small, lilac blossoms with many layers of petals with a tube-like floral cup. They are very delicate and have a faint scent that smells like cigarette smoke.

In late summer it produces small, perforated fruit. The rubbery magenta skin is peel-able and edible when cooked; it is savoury, and the very soft purple flesh is sour and dry. The blood red seeds are large and are located in the centre of the fruit.

The roots are shallow and grow straight down, and overall the tree is sturdy and rigid.

Forests of this species feature the trees packed together, with patches of undergrowth between them.