Speckled Needlewood

This short tree grows up to 5 meters (16.4 feet) tall and lives for centuries, with the oldest known specimen being around 450 years old. It is very resistant to disease but is susceptible to destructive insect infestation.

It has a flexible, straight trunk covered in fine, ridged, brown-green speckled bark, and inside, the very hard wood is black.

The excessive amount of branches are very short and slender, with thousands of twigs covered with large amounts of huge, cream or crimson needles. The needles themselves are flimsy.

In late summer it produces large, cream, spiky-shelled seeds.

The roots are shallow and widely spread, and overall the tree is sturdy and difficult to uproot.

Forests of this species feature trees spaced far apart, with patches of undergrowth between them.