Mahogany

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 50 years old. It is very resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has a stocky, straight trunk covered in thick, smooth, mahogany-coloured bark, and inside, the hard wood is silver.

The small bunches of branches trail down across the ground and are covered with large amounts of large, stiff, pointed leaves with irregular edges. The leaves themselves are deep blue on the sides and blood red at the center.

In early spring, it produces bunches of medium-sized, black blossoms with long, narrow petals. They are hardy and have a delicate scent that smells like new carpet.

In early winter it produces , oval fruit. The smooth cream skin is thick and edible when boiled; it is sweet and bitter, and the slightly crunchy deep blue flesh is savoury and syrupy. The grey seeds are small and are located in the centre of the fruit.

The roots are long and grow straight down, and overall the tree is rigid and weak, and breaks apart easily.

Forests of this species feature well-spaced trees, with the space between them filled with thick undergrowth.