Copperberry

This short fruit tree grows up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall and lives for up to 15 years, with the oldest known specimen being around 22 years old. It is not very resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has a narrow, straight trunk covered in very thick, knobbly, copper-coloured bark, and inside, the very hard wood is pale yellow.

The small handful of branches are tall, rigid and upright and are covered with handfuls of miniature, 4 pointed leaves with serrated edges. The leaves themselves are violet and bright orange.

In early spring, it produces bunches of tiny, silver blossoms with sickle shaped petals. They detach easily and have a weak scent that smells like a damp log.

In early winter it produces small, 2 pointed fruit. The soft blue skin is tough and inedible, and the crunchy cream flesh is bitter and dry. The green seeds are large and are located in the centre of the fruit.

The roots are fine and grow in a large web, and overall the tree is rigid and brittle.

Forests of this species feature the trees packed together densely, with patches of undergrowth between them.