Chestnut

This short fruit tree grows up to 9 feet (2.7 meters) tall and lives for up to 20 years, with the oldest known specimen being around 55 years old. It is very resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has a flexible, straight trunk covered in hard, silky, mahogany-coloured bark, and inside, the hard wood is white.

The small bunches of branches are tall, rigid and upright and are covered with small bunches of giant, very narrow and elongated leaves with smooth edges. The leaves themselves are solid hazel or lime, with blood red lines.

In early spring, it produces thousands of small, silver blossoms with slender, pointed petals with a tube-like floral cup. They are very delicate and have the faintest scent that smells like chocolate.

In late autumn it produces very large, long, straight fruit. The smooth pink skin is stretchy and extremely savoury, and the soft peach flesh is sweet and savoury and juicy. The beige seeds are tiny and are dotted around on the skin of the fruit.

The roots are thick and spread across the surface, as well as underground, and overall the tree is rigid and brittle.

Forests of this species feature well-spaced trees, with clear space between them.