Copperfern

This short shrub grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall and lives for around 42 years. It is very susceptible to disease and insect infestation.

It has many wide, straight stems covered in silky, brown and grey bark, and the wood inside is white.

The branches are short and thin with thousands of twigs that and are covered with small amounts of large, fan-like, leaves with ripped edges. The leaves themselves are solid copper with beige zig-zags, flexible and crispy.

In mid-spring it produces many balls of medium-sized, violet blossoms with broad, flat petals with a bell-shaped floral cup. They are sturdy and have a weak scent that smells like bonfire smoke.

In late winter tiny spherical fruits ripen. The smooth lilac skin is tough and edible when boiled; it is sour, and the very soft amber flesh is sweet and oily. The orange seed is large and sits at the top of the fruit.