Blackvine

This short shrub grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall and lives for around 39 years. It is very susceptible to disease and insect infestation.

It has dozens of thick, straight stems covered in very thick, smooth, black with white speckled bark, and the wood inside is pale brown.

The branches are short and slender that and are covered with handfuls of small, needle-like, leaves with irregular edges. The leaves themselves are cyan and blue, delicate and crispy.

In early spring it produces a handful of medium-sized, crimson blossoms with perforated petals with a tube-like floral cup. They fall easily and have an intense scent that smells like rotten eggs.

In early winter very large long, tapering fruits ripen. The hairy blue skin is thin and edible when boiled; it is bitter, and the soft green flesh is sweet and spicy and very juicy. The black seed is tiny and is in the centre of the fruit.