<previous next>

Waterstem Bush

Shrub type: Deciduous (Stores water in its stem)

This modest-sized shrub grows up to 4 feet (1.2 meters) tall and lives for decades, with the oldest known specimen being around 196 years old. It is not very resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has numerous flexible, wavy stems covered in fine, wrinkled, black with white speckled bark, and the wood inside is pine-coloured.

The branches are short stubs with thousands of twigs that and are covered with thick bunches of large, sickle shaped, leaves with toothed edges. The leaves themselves are indigo at the bottom and copper with orange lines at the top, delicate and sticky.

In early spring it produces many tiny, red blossoms with slender, pointed petals with a trumpet-shaped floral cup. They are very delicate and have a powerful scent that smells like skunk spray.

In late winter tiny oval fruits ripen. The soft orange skin is delicate and inedible, and the crunchy drab red flesh is spicy and very dry. The dark grey seeds are small and are scattered throughout the fruit.

It out-competes most other plants for nutrients and light.
It is suitable for creating flexible, durable textiles