Bloodvine

This short shrub grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall and lives for around 30 years. It is very susceptible to disease and insect infestation.

It has numerous flexible, angular stems covered in thick, silky, light gray bark, and the wood inside is gray.

The branches trail down towards the ground that and are covered with small bunches of giant, long, tapering, leaves with jagged edges. The leaves themselves are solid blood red with lilac zig-zags, flexible and waxy.

In mid-spring it produces lots of small, yellow blossoms with oval-shaped shaped petals. They detach easily and have an overpowering scent that smells like fish.

In midwinter tiny slender, 8 pointed fruits ripen. The sticky dark grey skin is delicate and sweet, and the soft white flesh is sweet and very juicy. The yellow seeds are large and are located in the centre of the fruit.