Ashenfruit Tree

This small fruit tree grows up to 9 feet (2.7 meters) tall and lives for up to 25 years, with the oldest known specimen being around 59 years old. It is very susceptible to disease and insect infestation.

It has a knobbly, wonky trunk covered in fine, wrinkled, light gray bark, and inside, the soft wood is pale brown-grey.

The branches are short, rigid and upright and are covered with large amounts of huge, stiff, pointed leaves with serrated edges. The leaves themselves are grey on the edges and hazel at the center.

In early spring, it produces a thick sheet of giant, aquamarine blossoms with slender, pointed petals with a bell-shaped floral cup. They detach easily and have a strong scent that smells like faeces.

In late autumn it produces large, broad, flat fruit. The fuzzy light grey skin is peel-able and edible when cooked; it is savoury, and the crunchy ashy orange flesh is spicy and sour and dry. The caramel seed is tiny and is in the centre of the fruit.

The roots form a tightly packed ball, and overall the tree is rigid and brittle.

Forests of this species feature the trees packed together densely, with the space between them filled with thick undergrowth.