Copperwood

This short tree grows up to 3 meters (9.8 feet) tall and lives for centuries, with the oldest known specimen being around 435 years old. It is very susceptible to disease and insect infestation.

It has a thick, straight trunk covered in paper-thin, knobbly, copper-coloured bark, and inside, the very light wood is black with white speckles.

The small bunches of branches are short, rigid and upright, with hundreds of twigs covered with handfuls of large, gray needles. The needles themselves are frail.

In late summer it produces small, lime, spiky-shelled seeds.

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

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