Magenta

This short shrub grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall and lives for around 49 years. It is very resistant to destructive insect infestation but susceptible to disease.

It has several wide, curved stems covered in cracked, yellow bark, and the wood inside is white with black speckles.

The branches are tall, rigid and upright with thousands of twigs that and are covered with copious amounts of miniature, sickle shaped, leaves with smooth edges. The leaves themselves are silver and magenta, flimsy and soft.

In early spring it produces a thick sheet of medium-sized, cream blossoms with circular petals with a tube-like floral cup. They are sturdy and have a strong scent that smells like fresh linen.

In mid-autumn slender, 9 pointed fruits ripen. The sticky brown skin is thin and edible when roasted; it is spicy and savoury, and the crunchy azure flesh is bitter and dry. The silver seed is large and sits at the top of the fruit.