Clinging Hazelfruit

This big fruit tree grows up to 39 feet (11.9 meters) tall and lives for up to 45 years, with the oldest known specimen being around 61 years old. It is very resistant to destructive insect infestation but susceptible to disease.

It has a narrow, slanted trunk covered in thin, rough, copper-coloured bark, and inside, the flexible wood is burgundy.

The branches are short, rigid and upright and are covered with small amounts of tiny, triangular leaves with rounded edges. The leaves themselves are blood red and pale orange.

In early spring, it produces many balls of medium-sized, hazel blossoms with 8 kidney-shaped shaped petals. They fall easily and have a soft scent that smells like rich perfume.

In late summer it produces tiny, spherical fruit. The crispy olive skin is stretchy and edible when boiled; it is sweet, and the crunchy olive flesh is spicy and savoury and very dry. The lime seed is tiny and sits at the top of the fruit.

The roots are long and grow straight down, and overall the tree is rigid and brittle.

Forests of this species feature trees spaced far apart, with the space between filled with undergrowth.