Mahogany

This short fruit tree grows up to 9 feet (2.7 meters) tall and lives for up to 45 years, with the oldest known specimen being around 74 years old. It is not very resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has a long and flexible, straight trunk covered in fine, silky, mahogany-coloured bark, and inside, the very hard wood is burgundy-brown.

The branches trail down towards the ground and are covered with thick bunches of huge, perforated leaves with smooth edges. The leaves themselves are found in red and black varieties.

In early spring, it produces hundreds of medium-sized, red blossoms with wide petals with a tube-like floral cup. They are hardy and have a weak scent that smells like cherry.

In early winter it produces small, pleated fruit. The rough silver skin is thin and inedible, and the soft orange flesh is sweet and very juicy. The dark brown 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 the trees packed together densely, with clear space between them.