Purple Needlefruit Tree

This short fruit tree grows up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall and lives for up to 45 years, with the oldest known specimen being around 52 years old. It is not very resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has a thick, straight trunk covered in silky, brown and grey bark, and inside, the light wood is dark brown.

The abundance of branches are short, rigid and upright and are covered with handfuls of huge, needle-like leaves with jagged edges. The leaves themselves are purple on the sides and bright orange at the center.

In early spring, it produces thick bunches of medium-sized, slate blossoms with broad, flat petals with a trumpet-shaped floral cup. They are sturdy and have a soft scent that smells like petrol.

In early winter it produces small, spherical fruit. The soft yellow skin is thin and inedible, and the soft purple flesh is sweet and salty and dry. The caramel seed is large and sits at the end of the fruit.

The roots are thick and spread across the surface, as well as underground, and overall the tree is rigid and brittle.

Forests of this species feature trees spaced far apart, with clear space between them.