Mahogany

This short shrub grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall and lives for around 15 years. It is very resistant to disease but is susceptible to destructive insect infestation.

It has numerous long and flexible, straight stems covered in fine, wrinkled, mahogany-coloured bark, and the wood inside is burgundy-brown.

The branches are very short and thick that and are covered with large amounts of tiny, thick, leaves with wavy edges. The leaves themselves are orange-yellow with hazel tips, sturdy and rough.

In mid-spring it produces bunches of small, pastel orange blossoms with 5 kidney-shaped shaped petals. They are hardy and have a mildly strong scent that smells like onion.

In midwinter asymmetrical fruits ripen. The fuzzy yellow skin is thin and spicy, and the slightly crunchy gold flesh is spicy and savoury and oily. The blood red seed is large and sits at the top of the fruit.