Copperneedle Tree

This large fruit tree grows up to 24 feet (7.3 meters) tall and lives for up to 25 years, with the oldest known specimen being around 26 years old. It is not very resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has a narrow, curved trunk covered in ridged, copper-coloured bark, and inside, the medium-dense wood is black.

The numerous branches trail down across the ground and are covered with small amounts of small, needle-like leaves with tattered edges. The leaves themselves are solid gentle purple with red lines.

In early spring, it produces bunches of tiny, caramel blossoms with spear shaped petals. They fall easily and have a delicate scent that smells like citrus.

In early summer it produces very large, needle-like fruit. The clammy gold skin is delicate and edible when cooked; it is sweet, and the slightly crunchy blue flesh is spicy and sour and oily. The black seed is small and sits at the top of the fruit.

The roots grow as a near perfect mirror of the tree above, and overall the tree is sturdy and difficult to uproot.

Forests of this species feature trees spaced far apart, with patches of undergrowth between them.