Indigo Fruit Tree

This small fruit tree grows up to 7 feet (2.1 meters) tall and lives for up to 30 years, with the oldest known specimen being around 50 years old. It is somewhat resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has a wide, straight trunk covered in rough, mahogany-coloured bark, and inside, the very dense wood is burgundy-brown.

The branches trail down across the ground and are covered with thick bunches of miniature, 3 pointed leaves with irregular edges. The leaves themselves are found in olive and indigo varieties.

In early spring, it produces dozens of medium-sized, hazel blossoms with fan-like petals with a trumpet-shaped floral cup. They are hardy and have a delicate scent that smells like rotten eggs.

In mid-summer it produces very large, finger-like fruit. The crispy black skin is peel-able and sweet, and the slightly crunchy slate flesh is spicy and savoury and powdery. The light yellow seed is tiny and sits at the top of the fruit.

The roots are shallow and grow straight down, and overall the tree is rigid and brittle.

Forests of this species feature the trees packed together densely, with clear space between them.