Copper

This short fruit tree grows up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall and lives for up to 15 years, with the oldest known specimen being around 17 years old. It is very resistant to disease but is susceptible to destructive insect infestation.

It has a knobbly, straight trunk covered in thin, rough, brown-green bark, and inside, the very dense wood is copper-coloured.

The branches are short stubs and are covered with handfuls of miniature, fan-like leaves with toothed edges. The leaves themselves are amber on the sides and washed-out green at the center.

In early spring, it produces handfuls of tiny, dark red blossoms with teardrop-shaped shaped petals. They are hardy and have a soft scent that smells like rotting meat.

In late autumn it produces very large, long, straight fruit. The leathery blue skin is delicate and edible when cooked; it is slightly sour, and the slightly crunchy amber flesh is overwhelmingly salty and syrupy. The lime seed is small and sits at the end of the fruit.

The roots are shallow and widely spread, and overall the tree is sturdy and rigid.

Forests of this species feature well-spaced trees, with patches of undergrowth between them.