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Silkwood Pine

Fruit Tree type: Coniferous (Stores water in the thickened base of its stem)

This average-sized fruit tree grows up to 17 feet (5.2 meters) tall and lives for up to 15 years, with the oldest known specimen being around 32 years old. It is very resistant to disease but is susceptible to destructive insect infestation.

It has a long and flexible, straight trunk covered in delicate, silky, yellow bark, and inside, the very hard wood is pale yellow.

The abundance of branches are very short and slender and are covered with sparse amounts of giant, asymmetrical leaves with smooth edges. The leaves themselves are generally brilliant red.

In early spring, it produces hundreds of small, intense blue blossoms with stiff, pointed petals with a trumpet-shaped floral cup. They are very delicate and have an overpowering scent that smells like new books.

In mid-summer it produces , long, curved fruit. The fuzzy blood red skin is delicate and edible when roasted; it is sweet and spicy, and the slightly crunchy turquoise flesh is spicy and very dry. The crimson seed is small and is in the centre of the fruit.

The roots are long and grow straight down, and overall the tree is rigid and weak, and breaks apart easily.

Forests of this species feature the trees packed together, with patches of undergrowth between them.

It is suitable for creating tough, hard-wearing textiles
It usually houses a colony of beneficial insects.