Clinging Lilacvine

This big shrub grows up to 9 feet (2.7 meters) tall and lives for around 98 years. It is very susceptible to disease and insect infestation.

It has dozens of slender, straight stems covered in delicate, smooth, black bark, and the wood inside is burgundy-brown.

The branches are short and slender with thousands of twigs that and are covered with large amounts of miniature, circular, leaves with serrated edges. The leaves themselves are pale green with turquoise tips, durable and waxy.

In early spring it produces many small, lilac blossoms with 7 kidney-shaped shaped petals. They detach easily and have a powerful scent that smells like pepper.

In mid-autumn fan-like fruits ripen. The hairy caramel skin is delicate and edible when roasted; it is sour, and the soft dark brown flesh is savoury and sticky. The slate seeds are large and are located in the centre of the fruit.