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Burgundyreed

Shrub type: Deciduous (Stores water in the thickened base of its stem)

This small shrub grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall and lives for around 32 years. It is very susceptible to disease and insect infestation.

It has dozens of slender, straight stems covered in fine, knobbly, burgundy bark, and the wood inside is copper-coloured.

The branches are short and thin with hundreds of twigs that and are covered with very large amounts of huge, long, narrow, leaves with smooth edges. The leaves themselves are solid grey or beige, with lilac dots, durable and clammy.

It produces lots of medium-sized, bronze flowers with 2 cylindrical shaped petals. They are hardy and have an intensely strong scent that smells like damp. In midwinter it forms tinyolive seed pods.

It is suitable for creating tough, hard-wearing textiles
It makes a distinctive sound when the wind blows through it.