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Clinging Mahogany Pineapple Tree

Fruit Tree type: Deciduous (Grows upwards by clinging to almost any surface.)

This big fruit tree grows up to 24 feet (7.3 meters) tall and lives for up to 25 years, with the oldest known specimen being around 47 years old. It is not very resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has a branched, straight trunk covered in paper-thin, ridged, dark gray bark, and inside, the dense wood is mahogany-coloured.

The thin clumps of branches are short, rigid and upright and are covered with small amounts of tiny, slender, pointed leaves with rounded edges. The leaves themselves are generally brown.

In early spring, it produces balls of giant, dark brown blossoms with long, tapering petals with a tube-like floral cup. They are sturdy and have a strong scent that smells like pineapple.

In mid-summer it produces small, slender, 8 pointed fruit. The sticky light grey skin is stretchy and edible when roasted; it is sweet and bitter, and the crunchy brown flesh is sweet and juicy. The cream seed is very large and sits at the end of the fruit.

The roots are fine and grow in a large web, and overall the tree is sturdy and rigid.

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

It is suitable for use as a construction material
It is excellent at collecting and storing carbon dioxide
It can flourish even in standing water.